Military Order of the Purple Heart Supports VA Secretary Shinseki Decision to Build VA Hospital in Colorado

The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) is pleased with the announcement by Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki that the Department of Veterans Affairs intends to move ahead with plans to build a VA hospital in Aurora, Colorado, a move that has long been advocated by the MOPH.  The new hospital, to be built on the grounds of the former U.S. Army Fitzsimons Hospital, will serve the needs of Colorado’s more than 426,000 veterans, other veterans throughout the Rocky Mountain West, and will provide treatment for Iraq and Afghanistan war casualties.  According to the VA, “the new medical center will provide Denver-area veterans with a full range of medical, laboratory, research and counseling services, including services for Veterans with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities."

In February, 2009, National Commander Jeff Roy met personally with Secretary Shinseki to underscore the pressing need to move ahead with the new hospital in Denver that has been plagued with political and funding problems for almost eight years.  Commander Roy also urged the Secretary to reach a speedy decision on similar facilities planned for New Orleans, Louisiana and Louisville, Kentucky.   In his testimony before a joint hearing of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs on March 12, 2009, National Commander Jeff Roy again underscored the need for the Congress to provide additional funding for the construction of these new and much needed VA facilities.  According to Roy, ‘The issue of doing the right thing for veterans has never been more important than at this time in our history.” 
 
The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) is unique among Veteran Service Organizations in that all its members were wounded in combat. For this sacrifice, they were awarded the Purple Heart Medal. With grants from the MOPH Service Foundation, the MOPH and its Ladies Auxiliary promote Patriotism, Fraternalism, and the Preservation of America's Military History. Most importantly, they provide comfort and assistance to all Veterans and their families, especially those requiring claims assistance with the VA, those who are homeless, and those requiring employment assistance.

For further information contact:
National Public Relations Director, John Bircher, 352-753-5535
Email: PublicRelations@Purpleheart.org
Web: www.purpleheart.org

MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
5413-B Backlick Road, Springfield, VA 22151
703-642-5360 Fax: 703-642-2054
www.purpleheart.org