Posted on 07/23/2011 10:30:36 AM PDT by newzjunkey
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Army's flagship hospital where privates to presidents have gone for care, is closing its doors after more than a century.
Hundreds of thousands of the nation's war wounded from World War I to today have received treatment at Walter Reed, including 18,000 troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
President Dwight Eisenhower died there. So did Gens. John J. Pershing and Douglas MacArthur ...
Through the use of medical diplomacy, the center also has tended to foreign leaders.
The storied hospital, which opened in 1909, was scarred by a 2007 scandal about substandard living conditions on its grounds for wounded troops in outpatient care and the red tape they faced. It led to improved care for the wounded, at Walter Reed and throughout the military. By then, however, plans were moving forward to close Walter Reed's campus.
Two years earlier, a government commission, noting that Walter Reed was showing its age, voted to close the facility and consolidate its operations with the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and a hospital at Fort Belvoir, Va., to save money.
Former and current patients and staff members will say goodbye at a ceremony Wednesday on the parade grounds in front of the main concrete and glass hospital complex. Most of the moving will occur in August. On Sept. 15, the Army hands over the campus to the new tenants: the State Department and the District of Columbia. The buildings on campus deemed national historic landmarks will be preserved; others probably will be torn down. The city is expected to develop its section for retail and other uses …
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
They did well by my family when care was needed.
Retail? Sometimes I feel there is no hope, geez
My nephew got great treatment. But he told me there was high crime real close.
But, we won’t need it since we won’t have a military plus we’ll have “emergency treatment centers” all over the place.
Huh? What? ???? Am I living in an alternate universe? Walter Reed closing?
Hundreds of thousands of the nation's war wounded from World War I to today have received treatment at Walter Reed, including 18,000 troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. President Dwight Eisenhower died there. So did Gens. John J. Pershing and Douglas MacArthur...
This American says THANK-YOU for the service that legendary hospital provided.
IMO, this is more about destroying another U. S. icon than anything else. Medical centers across this nation are revitalized by new wings. Services are shifted as building takes place. Pretty soon you have a whole new facility.
I’m sure this took place at Walter Reed a number of times during it’s history. Why stop now?
The relative cost would be insignificant.
There should always be a Walter Reed hospital. It’s an American institution and has been for over 100 years.
It’s not needed anymore. Why have another costly hospital when we have Bethesda which is newer and capable of the spill over from Walter Reed. Remember we are cutting spending. This should thrill all of us who care about financial health of our country. If this was the only hospital for current military folks and vets in Washington than it would be a different story but if we don’t need the hospital than they are doing a brilliant job by closing the facility. I am glad that we will save money that can be used somewhere else like perhaps paying the extra funds towards the debt? What a concept that would be....
It’s only one hundred years old; there is no reason to keep it open. It was a hospital; not a national treasure.
Whenever they're not on tour, these ladies give this precious gift to the warriors at WR.
We got some purty good people in the US.
I hope you forgot your sarcasm tag.
It is a hospital; one that has a bit of history, but still just a hospital. It is outdated and ill-equiped to serve its patients.
IMO, this is more about destroying another U. S. icon than anything else
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Agreed. The sly symbolism is there.
Better it be used as a shopping mall than a mosque.
Somebody who has a twitter act. please tell the writer of this AP piece to go back and write about the 327 Friday nights that dedicated Freepers have stood with banners, signs, flags and voices in front of the main gates at WRAMC. They have not missed a single Friday night, standing through all kinds of weather, holidays, and danger to make sure that the wounded warriors know that they have the support of American patriots. The warriors know it too. They have many times come and to express their appreciation for the support, saying that they can hear the voices from their rooms. Why doesn’t the media report the steadfastness of these patriots? It’s a real story. (I don’t twitter and it’s the only way to reach the writer)
God Bless the DC Chapter and guest FReepers for their vigil.
I was assigned there from ‘77-’81. Worked in both the old and new hospital (at the time). It is a shame to see how the crown jewel of Army teaching hospitals deteriorated.
Walter Reed’s age has brought it to the crossing between well-deserved sentiment and sheer economics.
As a new “national historic” site, a few of its iconic buildings can continue to inform future generations about its storied history, while the great work that has gone on there continues to go on in newer facilities.
Sometimes “change” is the right thing. (not always!!)
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