VA Turns Down $1/year Lease Offer! Why?

About two years ago I posted this about a possible VA Hospital in Harriman, TN.  That proposal was declined.

Stories at the time failed to garner any attention: http://www.wate.com/story/17351274/harriman-mayor-trying-to-add-va-hospital-to-east-tennessee 

  

I'm bringing it up again because of the recent scandal involving the Veterans Administration.  It seems they can't handle the number of veterans needing their assistance at VA Hospitals across the country.

True, they have certain internal policies and staffing issues that need to be addressed in the very near future, but it seems to me a few more hospitals would ease the burden. 

That's why it aggravates me to no end to know that there is a perfectly good hospital building, recently vacated, sitting in Harriman, Tennessee that the city has offered to the VA for $1 a year!  

Harriman's Roane Medical Center closed last year and moved operations to a brand new facility in Midtown (about 5.3 miles away), which centralizes their services to Roane, Morgan, Rhea, and other areas in East Tennessee.  There is nothing wrong with the old facility, and would make a great hospital for VA services.  

City Officials offered the facility to the VA and they came and toured, but declined the one dollar a year lease offer.

Frankly, especially after the recent scandal, the area is shocked!  Why is this perfectly fine facility not being used, when there clearly is a dire need for doctors, beds, and services?  It is estimated that this Roane County facility could serve up to 100,000 veterans in Anderson, Blount, Cumberland, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Rhea, Roane and Scott counties, and save them hours of driving and fuel costs driving to get help.

And, it's true, Harriman needs the help in bringing money and commerce into the area, but when there is a clear need for this VA facility, it's a win, win, for everyone.

If you read this, please try and get the word out to congressmen, both city, state, and nationally about this issue.  It seems this is one way to stand up for our servicemen!

Here are a few places to start getting attention to this problem:

http://www.lamaralexander.com/contact-lamar

http://www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactme

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/TN

comments@foxnewsinsider.com

foxnewstips@foxnews.com

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form11e.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/BrianRoss/page?id=3247430

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/10285339

evening@cbsnews.com

Don't forget Facebook and other social media pages.  Spread the word far and wide!

RALLY FOR HARRIMAN VA HOSPITAL THIS FRIDAY

To some of you that have not heard: 

The Harriman Hospital has been offered, by the City of Harriman, to the Veterans Administration for $1 to take it over as a VA facility. It is almost perfectly equidistant from existing VA hospitals that are approximately 140 miles distant; Johnson City and Murfreesboro. This could give service to 85,000+ veterans, reducing expense and time for this important people to get better medical service. 

We need a crowd of 600+ to make our best impression for this event this coming Friday.

So, give it your best effort...we need this facility!

 CONGRESSMAN CHUCK FLEISCHMANN

OFFICIALLY INVITES YOU TO ATTEND A

SPECIAL EVENT

TO HONOR OUR VETERANS

WITH

CONGRESSMAN JEFF MILLER

CHAIRMAN OF THE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

ON

FRIDAY, JULY 13

11:30 A.M.

THE PUBLIC GAZEBO

AT

OLD ROANE COUNTY COURTHOUSE

KINGSTON, TN

THERE COULD BE A NEW VA HOSPITAL IN HARRIMAN, TN

It's true!  If there is enough interest, and everyone pulls together, the hospital building in Harriman, Tennessee, soon to be vacated after a move of Roane Medical Center to new facilities in Midtown (2013), could become a new regional Veterans Hospital!  Are you willing to help?!

Here is an open letter to the citizens of Roane, Morgan, and surrounding counties:

March 1, 2012

To:                                                                                                                   

     National & State Officials

     Area Officials

     The Veterans Administration

     Area Leaders

     Media Representatives

Purpose:

     VA Hospital Donation

To All Invited Guests:

     Upon receipt of this letter you, or a representative of your office, are invited to attend a strategic planning discussion pertaining to the donation and development of a new Veterans Hospital in Harriman, Tennessee.  The proposed veterans facility will be centrally located in Roane County between the two existing Veteran’s hospitals (Nashville and Tri-Cities), and would provide assistance to a ten county area to supply much needed services to approximately 50,000 veterans who, now, are required to travel roughly 275 miles round-trip to access hospital care.  Such a project would not only benefit patients, but would serve to directly create approximately 250 jobs in the Harriman area, produce ancillary businesses to provide support services as well as generate an increase in revenue to existing businesses in Harriman, Kingston, Rockwood, and surrounding communities.       

     The meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time to be held in Harriman, Tennessee at the American Legion Building, Post 53.  Post 53 is located in downtown Harriman, on Morgan Avenue, behind the Harriman Utility Building.

     The City of Harriman owns a 4-story, 75-bed hospital, equipped with a complete ER, 3 comprehensive surgical bays, and out-patient wing in downtown Harriman.  The property is debt-free, in excellent condition, and available for immediate development as part of a new veteran’s facility.  The hospital has recently become available due to construction of a new hospital on the east side of town.

     To facilitate development of a new veteran’s healthcare resource, the City of Harriman is offering to lease the hospital and land to the Veterans Administration for $1.00 per year for a total of $1.00.  Current schedules call for the existing hospital to complete its transition to the new site by the spring of 2013. 

     This is an exciting opportunity for the Veterans Administration, patients, the City of Harriman, and surrounding communities.  Patient needs will be better served, area veteran’s resources will be greatly enhanced, people will be put to work, new businesses will develop, and additional streams of revenue will flow into Roane County.  We are eager to have your participation and input regarding this endeavor.  Any insight you could provide would be greatly appreciated, and go a long way to making this undertaking a successful venture for all involved.

     Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Chris Mason, Mayor of Harriman at: mayormason@comcast.net.  You may also contact Steve McBay at: landmarkrealty@aol.com or Tommy True at (865) 607-0470. 

UPDATE: http://mushysmoochings.blogspot.com/2014/06/va-turns-down-1year-lease-offer-why.html

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO REMEMBER A SOLIDER

Do you remember The War of 1898? Me either, but I do remember The Spanish-American War, some battles of which were fought in the Philippines where Pvt. Johnson served. This was the war for the generation of Patrick Hayes Johnson, born in August of 1877. Patrick died almost 31 years after that war ended. He was killed in a tragic accident in 1929 at a railroad crossing.

Cecil Johnson, my uncle through my marriage to Corey’s mother, is a surviving son of Patrick. For all of Cecil’s adult life, he has pursued some honor for his father and this year he finally got the long delayed recognition from the U. S. Government for which his father fought. The government even sent Tennessee Congressman Lincoln Davis, who was instrumental in securing the honor, and an Honor Guard to highlight the laying of a plaque at Pvt. Johnson’s grave in the Harriman Cemetery (Harriman, Tennessee).

It was not an easy path to obtaining the government’s recognition, mostly because of a house fire that destroyed all of the soldier’s military papers. However, through the wonder of the “information age” a grandson found the records online and with the aide of Congressman Davis, the honor came about recently.

Two of the photos used here were scanned from the Roane County News, one showing Cecil walking away carrying the flag and shell casings, used in the 21-gun salute, presented to him after the ceremony, and another fuzzy shot of the grave marker.

I see Cecil and his wife Joyce once or twice a year, but always at my granddaughter Lily’s birthday party. I’ve included this year’s shot from the party, and also a shot of him, Corey, and me when we all wore younger men’s clothes.

Cecil was also a veteran of the Korean War, and suffered many ordeals while in country. Cecil’s brother, Willis, also followed in their father’s footsteps by serving in World War II.

Of course, I never knew Cecil’s father, but I know he would have been proud of his son. Cecil is a quiet man, with much internal strength. He never fails to offer me his hand, a smile, and often a hug when we meet. I’ve always been proud of him too, and looked up to his silent strength. He and Joyce will always be family to me.

This newspaper article came to my attention just in time for me to post it in honor of Patrick Johnson, and for all who served and died to make this country free.

Have a wonderful and reflective Memorial Day!

NOT A DAY GOES BY…

As much as it pains me, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t remember.

On this Memorial Weekend, I remember those that I lost and those that we’ve all lost.

Thank God you were born American.

Thank God for those that made/make it possible.

Oh yeah, thanks for celebrating my birthday too!

THINKING OF THOSE THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT...

...and praying of those that did!