Posted on 09/18/2011 12:29:55 PM PDT by trooprally
Quiet and serene, with a ghost town atmosphere. A far cry from the hustle and bustle of a month ago. All the wounded had been transferred to Ft. Belvoir or The new Walter Reed National Medical Center, Bethesda. The last 18 wounded warriors were moved on August 27,2011.
Pictures and video by [Mrs] Trooprally
At 11AM on this most perfect of a day, there was no one to be seen except a few people setting up for the lowering of the colors and a few trucks and cars packing up. Only sound one heard was the low hollow clanking of the metal flag snaps on the flag pole.
Below is the front of Walter Reed as seen from the main hospitals doors.
Around 11:30AM staff, some special guests and the remaining base soldiers started to arrive. All together there was about 100 soldiers, staff and guests.
Below is Mrs. Molonge, wife of Maj. Gen. Lewis Molonge whose name sake is remembered in the Molonge House.
Below is Garrison Commander and current base commander Col. Peter McHugh (right), with interim base commander under BRAC. His name eludes me at this time. Ann and Ted Needles of the Maryland Patriot Guard Riders to the right in light purple shirts.
Below is video of the flag lowering. It is 16 minutes from Col. McHugh’s speech thru the lowering, the singing of the Army Hymn, and final retiring of the colors. The press was invited but they did not show. Another sign of disrespect for our brave soldiers by the media. The folding of the flag may not be the sharpest, but Col. McHugh wanted representatives of those who held Walter Reed dearest in their hearts to be part of the ceremony.
Video of the Lowering of the Colors
At 12:30PM, Thursday, September 15,2011 Walter Reed Army Medical Center was no more. A sad day in America’s history.
The proverbial “fat lady” has sung.
Hooah !
Thanks for the pics and the update.
I grew up in the DC area and had been to Walter Reed several times as a civilian and later on temporary duty to Walter Reed when on active duty myself.
It’s like losing an old friend.
Sad in some respects, but most facilities reach a point where trying to keep them up for sentimental reasons becomes more expensive than it is worth. What should also happen is that any congressmen, senators or the president who regulary use services at Bethesda should be forced to go elsewhere, period.
So: Now what happens to the Post?
Who will get it and what will the price be?
When I was stationed in the Pentagon (2007-2008), scuttlebutt had it that the State Department would take over the Walter Reed campus.
I was assigned to the Pentagon’s DiLorenzo TRICARE clinic, so our parent unit was Walter Reed. I went there once a month for meetings. Anyway, I found it interesting that part of the Walter Reed Campus (or post) had million dollar homes near it, yet on the other side, it was the ghetto.
Kid you not, there was a fried chicken restaurant on the crappy side, not far from the main gate, it’s name: Little Peckers.
Historic designation has been applied for Bldg. 1, the rose garden and some of the roads, the State Department gets 20 something acres, and DC has first claim to the remaining 100+ acres at $1,000 per square foot if I remember correctly.
Thanks for the ping, and thanks again to all who stood in support of our troops for all those years!
See you next time we get up to the DC area.
Walter Reed had a long, proud run. Most of us will never comprehend all that’s been done there over the years. May the new WR at Bethesda expand on that fine history.
LOSERS!
Although this is so sad, especially for you who were so faithful in supporting America’s Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed, thank you for notifying us.
It was good to meet you,Thanks for all you’ve done.
You are welcome. I guess this is the final chapter for Walter Reed, DC. There are BBQs and things going on at Walter Reed, Bethesda, that we can help out with.
Yes—tis a sad day indeed—but some of my fondest memories will always be of standing with all of you at the gate to Walter Reed.
The press was invited but they did not show.
*****
Wow! How disgusting! They were there to hype some substandard motel rooms when it suited them!
Mologne, ahem.
I was born at Walter Reed and grew up in two neighborhoods near the hospital. I have fond memories of walking around the gardens, going to Mass at the chapel, going to the little store, and getting my tonsils out there.
The old buildings were still around when I had my tonsils out, and they still put patients on the sleeping porches.
It sad to see such a landmark go. It seems that they just built the new buildings; how can they be out of date already?
The press sucks donkey d*cks, but we already know that.
Maryland PING!
And the press never mentioned the the motel was NOT on base, and that remedial work was on going. When some soldiers held a press conference to defend WR, and to explain that the soldier who was in that room requested it because he would have a room by himself, they never printed anything.
[Mr] t
I heard, rumor only, that the new hospital building was built on substandard soil and was having problems. I also heard that for security reasons, the State Department is going to build a new building with better security measures.
Thanks for this report...sad though it is to accept.
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