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DEVELOPER OFFERS VA LAND TO BUILD HOSPITAL IN
RIO
GRANDE VALLEY -- Homebuilder and developer Ray
Gonzalez
said government officials have given Rio Grande
veterans
the runaround about a veterans hospital for too
long.
Rio Grande Valley vets march for VA
hospital in 2006.
For more on the struggle of Rio Grande Valley
veterans to get a VA hospital, use the VA Watchdog search engine...click
here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/ses
search.php?q=rio+grande&op=ph
Story here...
http://www.themonitor.com/
news/gonzalez_4528___article.
html/hospital_veterans.html
Story below:
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Harlingen developer offers land to build Valley
veterans hospital
Daisy Martinez (Valley Morning Star)
HARLINGEN — Local homebuilder and developer Ray Gonzalez said government
officials have given Rio Grande veterans the runaround about a veterans
hospital for too long.
Gonzalez, owner of Gonzalez Homes and Gonzalez Development and treasurer
for the Harlingen Area Builders Association, has offered to donate about
four to five acres of land in Harlingen for a veterans hospital.
The lot is located in the western part of the city and faces Chester
Park Road off of Spur 54 near Palm Court Drive, Gonzalez said. It is
currently valued at about $200,000, he added.
“I’m not a veteran but I’ve experienced this (lack of a Valley veterans
hospital) through friends and nephews,” Gonzalez said. “Wars are not
nice and there are casualties. The government isn’t doing as much as
they could for these guys. They’re giving them the runaround.”
Gonzalez plans to meet today with U.S. Reps. Rubén Hinojosa, D-Mercedes,
and Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, to talk about the possible land
donation.
“Maybe they can shed some light … on how to make the (donation) so we
can at least have a good chance of being a good candidate for the site”
Gonzalez said.
He said he would be glad to donate the land, because the hospital not
only would help veterans but also might help the city’s economy.
“By having a veterans hospital here, maybe veterans will come shop here,
maybe some will relocate here, and it will also bring doctors, nurses
and other businesses,” Gonzalez said. “It’s not all about building
restaurants and shopping centers. We also need something to take care of
people. I just want to do something that makes a difference here in
Harlingen.”
Gonzalez said Harlingen is the ideal location for a Valley veterans
hospital because it is centrally located and has access to Highway
77/83. The city also has Valley Baptist Medical Center and Valley
International Airport, he added.
“I just feel something should be done,” Gonzalez said. “I hope this is
not a one-man battle, but if it has to be, I’m willing to take it on. We
need to generate growth as individuals — everyone is waiting for others
to do something. We need to make the hospital happen.”
Gonzalez said he has had support for his efforts from other local
builders and developers as well as other individuals. He hopes city
officials also will get involved in the cause.
“I’m just trying to make a good gesture and I’m not asking for anything
in return,” Gonzalez said. “I know what I have to do, and I have to
donate the land for the hospital.”
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Larry Scott --
