[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 146 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         WHITE RIVER JUNCTION VA CENTER--60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital and Regional Office Center 
of White River Junction, Vermont. October 16 marks this facility's 
sixtieth anniversary. For six decades it has provided compassionate, 
high-quality service to Vermont and New Hampshire Veterans.
  On October 16, 1938, an elaborate dedication ceremony was held in 
White River Junction at the newly completed VA hospital. The next day, 
the first patient was admitted. In an unusual move, the regional VA 
office relocated its offices from Burlington to the White River 
Junction location to better serve veterans in processing their claims 
for benefits. The facility gradually grew over the years. By the end of 
World War II, 26 ``Quonset'' huts had to be erected to provide space 
for the rapidly expanding veterans programs, increasing the hospital's 
capacity to 250 beds.
  In 1946, the VA hospital entered into an agreement with Dartmouth 
Medical School to become a teaching hospital, an arrangement that 
continues and thrives today. Recognizing the importance of research 
programs, in 1954, the VA, in partnership with Dartmouth Medical 
School, launched a medical research initiative. The research function 
was significantly expanded in 1992 with the completion of a research 
and education facility that enabled the hospital to perform medical and 
health services research, rehabilitation and cooperative studies. In 
addition to these critical fields of study, this facility is helping 
veterans make more informed choices about their medical treatment 
through cutting edge outcomes research.
  From 1971 through 1981, several construction projects were undertaken 
to modernize and expand the hospital. In 1989, the VA began its venture 
of providing community-based outreach centers (CBOCs) to meet veterans' 
primary care needs in locations closer to their homes. A outreach 
clinic was opened in Burlington, and based on the success of this 
project, a community clinic was opened in Bennington earlier this year.
  The White River Junction VA center has also done an exemplary job of 
meeting more than just the veterans' health care needs. Vermont 
veterans are also very fortunate to have, under the same roof, a very 
capable group of people to assist them with their benefit needs. The 
staff is small but mighty when its comes to their advocacy for veterans 
and I greatly appreciate the assistance they have provided Vermont 
veterans, for more than half a century, as well as to my office for the 
past 20 years.
  In closing, Mr. President, I want to publicly thank all of the unsung 
heroes associated with this tremendous facility. They know who they 
are--the director of this facility, Gary DeGasta; the dedicated staff 
at the hospital and regional office; the Veterans Service Organizations 
who donate so much time and money to help provide for veterans; and, of 
course, the veterans, who for 60 years have supported the mission of 
this fine facility with their continuous patronage.
  To my friends at the VA in White River Junction--Happy Anniversary. 
May you have many more.

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