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VA TO GET $3.9 MILLION CLINICAL RESOURCE CENTER
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The center is made possible by a donation from
the
Illinois AMVETS Service Foundation.
Marion, Illinois VA
Story here...
http://www.southernillinoisan.
com/articles/2007/06/30/top/20707770.txt
Story below:
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Giving back: VA getting $3.9 million Clinical
Resource Center
BY JOHN D. HOMAN, THE SOUTHERN
MARION - There are a million reasons why American military veterans
deserve the best accommodations, care and services its country can
offer, or in the case of the Marion Veterans Administration Medical
Center, 3.9 million reasons.
At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, VA officials will host a groundbreaking ceremony
for a new Illinois AMVETS Clinical Resource Center to be built on the
center grounds. James King, National Executive Director for AMVETS, will
be the keynote speaker at the ceremony. The center is made possible by a
$3.9 million donation from the Illinois AMVETS Service Foundation.
Community Affairs Director Rebecca Shinneman said Friday that staffers
are overjoyed with the news.
"We just found out about a month ago that the funding had been approved
by the secretary of the VA," Shinneman said. "The whole donation process
actually started over a year and a half ago."
The biggest decision was figuring out how to spend the money, Shinneman
said. The consensus opinion was that a resource center featuring an
aquatherapy pool would be most appropriate.
"Not only does the funding pay for the construction of the building,
which will be anywhere from 25,000 to 28,000 square feet, but it will
also pay for all the necessary equipment inside. Besides the pool, there
will also be resources available for mental health and job counseling,
as well as physical therapy," she said.
Shinneman said a former state commander, Bill Quick, was instrumental in
convincing the AMVETS Service Foundation that the Marion project was a
worthy one, along with Don Russell. Both have been active with the
Marion facility.
"They helped raise awareness to their fellow committee members that
these kind of services were needed here in Southern Illinois," she said.
Robert Morrel, director of the Marion VA Center, said the donation was
the result of a "wonderful partnership" with the foundation.
Mayor Bob Butler said the new addition will increase the availability of
quality care for veterans throughout the region.
"Our area is truly blessed with having this facility here in Marion," he
said. "Over the years, our VA has continued to expand the physical plant
and services. It is certainly regarded as one of the premier facilities
for veterans in the VA network."
The foundation also funded the construction of a fishing pond and
pavilion for the nursing home at Marion about 15 years ago.
john.homan@thesouthern.com
351-5805
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Larry Scott --
