Page 22 - Lubbock Senior Link Magazine Fall 2019- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

LUBBOCK NEW The Amarillo VA Director,
VA SUPER CLINIC Mike Kiefer, opened
the ceremony and gave
GROUND BREAKING particulars on the size and
By Gary Harber Brig. Gen. (Ret.) US Army location of the new VA
Lubbock Super Clinic,
The new Lubbock VA Super Clinic which will be located at 4
th
Groundbreaking Ceremony was held and Indiana Avenue, north
on 24 April 2019 in the Texas Tech of the Texas Tech University
Health Science Center Area and was Medical Center Complex.
attended by a large crowd of Veteran The 94,000 sq. ft building,
supporters from the West Texas Area approximately four times the
- including members of the Veterans space of the current Lubbock
of Foreign Wars, American Legion, clinic will be supported by
Disabled American Veterans, and many 635 parking spaces.
other Veteran service organizations.
support a new VA Clinic, which was The new facility will provide
The celebration for the groundbreaking passed and signed by Mayor Tom improved and increased emphasis on
and beginning of construction of the new Martin. U.S. Senator John Cornyn and treating traumatic brain injuries and
VA Super Clinic is the culmination of U.S. Congressman Randy Neugebauer post-traumatic stress (PTS). In addition,
years of work by the VA Rural Health were instrumental in gaining approval Primary Care, Physical Therapy,
Committee that had its beginning in and worked to provide funding for the Dermatology, Podiatry, Orthopedics,
August of 2009, servicing the West Texas new Super Clinic with the Chairman of Dental and Special Care Services will be
and New Mexico areas. This remarkable the House Veterans Affairs Committee available. Following Kiefer’s comments,
story began with the desire of Lt. Gen. Congressman, Jeff Miller. the ground breaking ensued, and
Bernhard Mittemeyer to have a much construction officially began. Thank you
better facility to support the medical The Texas Tech Health Science Center to everyone who worked so hard to make
needs of Veterans of the area. General was very supportive of the efforts for a the Lubbock VA Super Clinic a reality.
Mittemeyer reached out to his fellow new VA Super
retired generals in Lubbock, enlisted the Clinic, and Dr.
help of others, and called a meeting to Tedd Mitchell
evaluate and develop requirements for a became an
larger and better facility. important
contributor to
The assembly of the Veteran Committee the efforts of
was held in December 2009, with the the committee.
focus of the initial 14 members on a offering support
plan of action. The plan was developed, and enthusiasm
and meetings were held in Amarillo for a new VA
with the Director, Andrew Welch, and Clinic near the
with congressional representatives. The Health Science
Lubbock City Council was presented Center.
with a Resolution on 27 May 2010 to

Guns Up for the Construction of the New Lubbock Super
Clinic Ground Breaking!

22 Lubbock Senior Link