Homes For Heroes: 1,000-Bed Army Hospital Set To Open Fall 2011 By COSHANDRA DILLARD, Stafff Writer - Tyler Morning Telegraph   |   May 20, 2010

Local and state officials felt a great sense of accomplishment and even shared a solemn moment as they celebrated the groundbreaking of Tyler's new Texas State Veterans Home along with veterans and other community members.

The ceremony took place at the Camp Fannin memorial -- an area in front of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler that once served as a training camp for soldiers, a prisoner-of-war camp and as a 1,000-bed army hospital.

The $15 million facility will open in fall 2011 on 20 acres, which was donated by the University Of Texas System Board Of Regents. It will be located just north of UTHSCT, along the west side of Texas Highway 155, just south of County Road 334.

An open kitchen, a dining area and private bathrooms are included in each of the 10 cottages, accommodating 100 veterans. There will also be a common area to draw veterans together for social interaction. San Antonio-based Touchstone Communities will manage the home, providing health care, rehabilitation and assisted living services.

"These homes are high-quality places. I like to describe it as, where honor lives," said Jerry Patterson, Texas Veterans Land Board Commissioner.

The home is funded by a $12 million grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, with the remaining 35 percent paid for by the Texas Veterans Land Board.

This will be the eighth Texas State Veterans Home built in the state since Patterson authored legislation creating the long-term care program in 1997. There are currently seven Texas Veterans Homes in Amarillo, Big Spring, Bonham, El Paso, Floresville, McAllen and Temple.

"We're breaking ground today not only for this facility, but we are breaking ground on a concept," Patterson said. "It will be actually a home. It will be 10 individual homes each with a fireplace, each with a separate kitchen. It's a totally new concept in long-term care and the first place to have that in veterans' homes in Texas here in East Texas."

THE FACILITY

Several local, state and federal officials have been instrumental in bringing the veterans' facility to East Texas, including state Rep. Leo Berman, state Rep. Tommy Merritt, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and county officials.

"A lot of people may not be aware of this until now, but in reality, it's something that started about 10 years ago," said Tom Mullins, president of the Tyler Economic Development Council. "There were key people in the area who had the concept to get the veterans center here."

Local officials learned that funding would be available for the facility in March 2009, after Sen. Hutchison secured a grant through federal stimulus funds.

"We knew that Tyler would be the next location but we had no funding," Patterson said. "This would have occurred anyway with subsequent appropriations, but with the stimulus dollars, it occurred earlier."

Mullins said the veterans' home will be beneficial to the East Texas economy.

"We have not done a separate study to give the exact number, but it's significant -- it's between $8 (million) and $10 million," he said of the economic impact.

Mullins said the center will create 100 to 110 jobs during the construction phase, and once open, would generate a payroll of at least $4 million each year.

There may also be a partnership between the home and UTHSCT.

"We hope to continue to do all we can to make sure that all the veterans of East Texas have access to all the services that they deserve. And they deserve a lot for their service," Dr. Kirk Calhoun, UTHSCT president, said.

REMEMBERING THEIR SERVICE

There are 16,326 veterans in Smith County alone and about 7,400 of the veterans are older than 65.
The ceremony allowed attendees to also pay tribute to those veterans. At the beginning of his remarks, Patterson, a retired Marine, urged the audience to reflect on one particular East Texan veteran who lost his life earlier this month and whose body was returned home Wednesday.

"I'd like to ask all of you to recognize today that a young marine …" Patterson began before becoming visibly shaken and allowing a long pause. "Sgt. Kenneth B. May, 26 years old, served two terms in Iraq and was recently deployed to Afghanistan where he was killed on May 1, 2010. Sgt. May was a Kilgore High School graduate, attended Kilgore College, he was an avid musician…"
Calhoun also recognized veterans, including his own father.

"Today, we're honoring so many veterans who have given so much to this country. I look at my own father, who served in the Pacific and earned his ribbons and a bronze star in combat in the protection of our country," he said. "So there are so many veterans to thank and not all of them can be taken care of at home. Like my dad, some of them need to be taken care of in a higher-level facility."

James Holmes, 95, who served in World War II, attended the ceremony with his daughter. He was shot down while flying in a bomber over Germany. The soldier spent nine months in a POW camp before returning to the United States. He is now in UTHSCT's geriatric program, receiving care from residents in training.

Holmes said he is pleased that local and state officials are bringing the facility to East Texas, noting that he has had to travel for specialized care.

"When I get unable to cope with myself I have a place to go where they can give me care," Holmes said. "I knew I could easily go to a veterans' hospital anytime I wanted to, but I don't want to go any more than I have to. It will be a wonderful thing. I'm just glad it's coming, if I last long enough 'til they get it built. Tell them to get it moving."

His daughter, Judy Holmes added, "I'm excited this isn't going to be a traditional nursing home, it's going to be very unique and person-centered," she said. "Everyone's going to be treated like they're in their own home."

Dressed in full military attire, Berman also addressed the crowd with a patriotic message.

"There will be a hundred beds out there and in each of those beds you're going to have a hero," he said, noting some campaigns in which many veterans from East Texas have fought. "I hope when this is built that someone will go to every veteran and ask them for their story."

Debra Christian, who has been busy renovating her own home for young veterans, attended the ceremony in honor of her father, who served in the army. She is the commander of the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary in Tyler.

"If he was still alive, he'd be here. He would have loved this," she said. "I am very happy. My heart is heavy with joy."

In his remarks, County Judge Joel Baker noted that the new development allow the community to take care of its veterans and show the utmost appreciation.

"Today is not the start of a journey, but the passage of progress from one mile post to another because with the determination and dedication of many, we can not see the journey's end," Baker said. "As we anticipate the completion of this beautiful facility that will serve veterans from around the state, we see past the construction equipment and the bricks and the mortar of buildings.

"We see the lives: the lives of our veterans that will be changed and properly honored for their service to this country."