Bay Pines VAHCS to Host Medical Center Renaming Ceremony
Bay Pines, FL (PRWEB) April 18, 2014 -- The Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (VAHCS) will host a medical center renaming ceremony in honor of the late U.S. Representative C.W. Bill Young on April 25, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. The ceremony will take place at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center in Bay Pines, Fla. in the courtyard located between building number 37 and building 2. The event is open to all Veterans, their family and friends, and the general public.
The ceremony comes after U.S. House of Representatives Bill 3302 was signed into law (Public Law 113-49) by President Barack Obama on November 13, 2013. The law officially changed the name of the facility from the Bay Pines VA Medical Center to the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center in honor of the Congressman’s work on behalf of Veterans and their families during his 22 terms as a member of Congress. Congressman Young passed away on October 18, 2013 at the age of 82 and was laid to rest at the Bay Pines National Cemetery on October 24.
“We look forward to hosting this wonderful event to honor the legacy of a long time partner and ardent advocate of the men and women we serve across southwest Florida,” said Suzanne M. Klinker, Director, Bay Pines VAHCS. “Congressman Young’s impact during his more than 50 years in public office and work on behalf our nation’s heroes will forever be remembered inside and outside the walls of our medical center,” she said.
Guest speakers for the event will include U.S. Rep. David Jolly, 13th Congressional District of Florida; U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, 12th District of Florida and Vice Chairman, House Committee on Veterans Affairs; U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, 1st Congressional District of Florida and Chairman, House Committee on Veterans Affairs; Vice Admiral Matthew L. Nathan, Surgeon General, U.S. Navy; Bill Young II, son of U.S. Rep. Young and Beverly Young; and Dr. Robert Petzel, Under Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Signage will be posted to direct visitors to the venue. Reserved and general parking will be available nearby. A shuttle service will also be available to provide transportation for guests from parking lots to the ceremony area. A sign language interpreter will be available for the hearing impaired.
The event will take place outdoors. The Bay Pines VAHCS encourages all attendees to dress appropriate for the weather. This ceremony is open for media coverage. For advanced information, please contact Jason Dangel, Public Affairs Officer, at 727-398-9531 or 727-798-1531.
For driving directions, a campus maps and more please visit http://www.baypines.va.gov/locations/directions.asp. To download an electronic version of the ceremony program, please visit http://www.baypines.va.gov/documents/program.pdf.
About the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System
The Bay Pines VAHCS is one of the nation’s leading VA healthcare systems, employing more than 3,500 medical professionals and support staff dedicated to providing the very best care to Veterans residing in southwest Florida. The organization is the fourth busiest VA health care system in the country in terms of patients served and is accredited by The Joint Commission, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and several other nationally recognized accrediting organizations. The Bay Pines VAHCS operates nine facilities to include the main medical center located in Bay Pines and outpatient clinics located in Bradenton, Cape Coral, Naples, Palm Harbor, Port Charlotte, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, and Sebring.
Jason W. Dangel, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, http://www.baypines.va.gov, +1 (727) 798-1531, [email protected]
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