New Veterans Nursing Home Has First Residents

WV Veterans Council Chairman Don Kinnard reports the first Veterans Nursing Home in West Virginia has accepted its first residents on November 9, 2007. The two residents are:

Sophie O. Gessler, age 82. Before serving in the military, she was a "Rosy the Riviter." She served in WW II in the Women's Army Corps (WAC) from 1944-1946. Most of her military time was spent at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Don reports that Sophie commented that the new Veterans Nursing Home was both "fantastic and beautiful." She also said she "would enjoy visiting with the other vets." and she wanted to "thank Don and the State of West Virginia" for the beautiful new facility.

Mervin R. Miller, 86, is the second resident in the new home. Mr. Miller served in the U.S. Army Artillery in North Africa during World War II from 1944-1946. Mr. Miller commented that the new facility was "very, very nice." He also thanked the State of West Virginia for the new $26 million facility.

Construction on the new nursing home was started in April 2004. Completion was originally scheduled for May 2006. Mr. Tom McGraw was employed as the nursing home's first Executive Director.

The new facility was designed to allow lots of natural light and each room is designed to have a more "homey" atmosphere. The new 120 bed facility has 30 beds designated for Alzheimer patients.

The new home is located on 5.5 acres of land given to the State of West Virginia by the Veterans Administration on the Louis A. Johnson VAMC Clarksburg campus. The facility is attached to the Louis A. Johnson Hospital but is operated as a separate facility owned and operated by the State of West Virginia through the Division of Veterans Affairs.

Veteran's organizations are being given the opportunity to adopt any or all of the ten (10) common areas to provide fixtures and recreational items for use by the residents.