[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5368]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING THE VETERANS GUEST HOUSE

 Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 
Veterans Guest House for its unwavering commitment and loyalty to 
providing our servicemembers, veterans, and their families lodging 
while they address their own health care needs at medical facilities 
throughout northern Nevada. The Veterans Guest House is one of a kind 
for our great State and is an invaluable resource to our military 
community.
  The Veterans Guest House was founded over two decades ago when a 
mother and her children were found sleeping in their car while their 
veteran father was in the intensive care unit at the local VA Sierra 
Nevada Health Care System Medical Center. In the early 1990s, founders 
of the Veterans Guest House--Chuck Fulkerson, Dick Rhyno, Thomas 
Purkey, Minor Kelso, Robert Crowell, Esq., Wally Willson, Lois Crocker, 
David Parsons, Joseph Rooney, Charles Grundy, Jes Barbera, Don 
Anderson, Lew Carnahan, Ben Duncan, Jeani Hunt, Jim Martin, Manuel 
Muniz, Rick Sorenson, Ensio Tosolini, Joe Scamihorn, William Wood, Len 
Crocker, Kit McGrath, Richard Shuster, Elaine McNeill, Rand Tanner, 
Chester Henry, and Ted Buchwald--realized that many veterans and their 
families lacked a place to stay while family members received medical 
treatment, and in 1994, they created the Spouse House. By 1998, the 
facility grew to offer five beds for veterans and their families.
  In 2002, the facility was officially named the Veterans Guest House, 
and on Veterans Day in 2004, with only private donations, the 
organization purchased and renovated a 3-story home across the street 
from the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System Medical Center. This 
facility now accommodates up to 17 guests. The Veterans Guest House 
provides both long-term and short-term lodging to veterans and their 
families for various situations, including veterans receiving 
outpatient care, families of veterans who are hospitalized, and 
veterans' immediate family members who are receiving medical treatment 
as an inpatient or outpatient. In the 22 years since its inception, the 
Veterans Guest House has served over 55,000 nights to veterans, veteran 
spouses, and veteran families.
  There is no way to adequately thank the men and women that lay down 
their lives for our freedoms, but those at the Veterans Guest House 
have gone above and beyond to show their appreciation. I would like to 
extend my deepest gratitude to chief executive officer Noreen Leary, 
the incredible staff, and the many dedicated individuals who volunteer 
at the Veterans Guest House, in addition to president Terry Tholl, vice 
President Monk Maim, secretary Lucy Miller, treasurer Carol Langford, 
and past and present members serving on the board of directors. These 
individuals helping our active military members, veterans, and their 
families at the Veterans Guest House stand as shining examples of the 
manner in which we should respect our men and women in uniform. The 
unwavering dedication of the Veterans Guest House to providing our 
brave men and women with a place to stay is commendable, and I am proud 
to honor it today.
  As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I recognize 
that Congress has a responsibility not only to honor these brave 
individuals who serve our Nation, but also to ensure they are cared for 
when they return home. Equally as important, it is crucial that these 
servicemembers and their families have a place to stay while receiving 
quality care. I remain committed to upholding this promise for our 
veterans and servicemembers in Nevada and throughout the Nation. I am 
very pleased that veterans service organizations like the Veterans 
Guest House are committed to ensuring that the needs of our veterans 
are being met.
  Today I ask my colleagues and all Nevadans to join me in recognizing 
the Veterans Guest House, an organization whose mission is noble and 
charitable. I am both humbled and honored to acknowledge this 
organization and its work to provide active military members, veterans, 
and their families a safe place to stay, and I wish it the best of luck 
in all of its future endeavors.

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