Senate Approves McConnell Provision to Name the Louisville VA Hospital after Robley Rex
November 16, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced Monday that the Senate approved his request to name the current and future VA hospital in Louisville the “Robley Rex Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.” McConnell’s proposal is included in FY 2010 Military Construction/VA appropriations bill, which is currently being considered on the Senate floor.
The idea of naming the hospital after Rex was first brought to the attention of Senator McConnell by a Kentucky veteran. The proposal has the support of the Joint Executive Council of Veterans Organizations of Kentucky, which is composed of over 20 state veterans organizations.
“The naming of the VA hospital in Louisville after Kentucky’s last World War I-era veteran is one step closer to reality,” McConnell said. “I appreciate my colleagues in the Senate recognizing a true Kentucky hero, Robley Rex. He was not only one of the Bluegrass State’s best known veterans, he was also its preeminent volunteer on behalf of veterans.”
“The new VA hospital will be vital to Kentucky’s veterans, as well as to Louisville’s economy,” McConnell added. “Once complete, the new hospital will ensure that the men and women who served our country will receive the quality health care they deserve. That devotion to ensuring quality care to our veterans is exemplified in the life and service of Robley Rex. How fitting that his fellow veterans—so many of whom knew him personally from his countless hours of volunteer service—will see his name above the door.”
Decades after his own military service ended, Rex continued to serve his fellow soldiers by volunteering at the Louisville VA Medical Center. Rex served his nation during the period immediately following World War I and devoted over 14,000 hours of his time volunteering to help fellow veterans. Rex passed away on April 28, 2009, a few days shy of his 108th birthday. He was Kentucky’s last World War I-era veteran.
Last year, the VA Secretary agreed to a request made by Senator McConnell to spend $75 million for the planning and design needed to build a new Louisville VA hospital, which was the maximum the VA could obligate for the project in FY '09. The site selection process for the new hospital is currently underway.
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