[caption id="attachment_1772" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The new Ft. Belvoir Community Hospital. This facility is expected to open near the end of September 2011."]
Forty-eight wounded warriors made a safe transfer from Walter Reed Army Medical Center to
Fort Belvoir on Sunday, and Mr. John Campbell, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Wounded Warrior Care and Transition Policy, was on hand to welcome them to their new home.
The warriors will live in recently completed wounded warrior barracks, which included 144 two-person suites for a total capacity of 288. The suites include a shared washer and dryer, kitchen and common area, as well as private bedrooms and bathrooms and a flat screen TV and computer for each warrior. All living and common spaces are ADA compliant.
Also on hand to welcome the warriors were volunteers from
Operation Homefront, who served up a hot meal to warriors and their families upon their arrival.
The wounded warrior barracks is just a short walk from the new
Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, which will open at the end of September. The hospital includes state-of-the-art labor and delivery and surgery capabilities, as well as a residential substance abuse program, an inpatient psychiatric ward and outpatient behavioral health program.
The hospital itself is designed to be welcoming and easy to navigate. Each wing of the hospital takes its name from nature—such as the Oak Pavilion and the Meadow Pavilion—and a color-coding system makes things easier to find. Inspiration for the layout and signage was taken from large airports.
Talks are underway for the construction of a
Fisher House and a
USO building directly across from the hospital, and also within walking distance of the wounded warrior barracks.
More wounded warriors will join the initial group of 48, and Mr. Campbell said he looks forward to visiting again soon to see how everyone is settling in.
In the meantime, welcome to your new home, Soldiers!