Ground broken for new Veterans Home

September 26, 2007

Veterans attending Wednesday's groundbreaking for a new veterans nursing home in Kinston stand as they are recognized for their service.

Chris Lavender

Staff Writer

Veterans joined local, state, and federal officials on Wednesday to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new N.C. State Veterans Home on Hull Road near the Caswell Center.

Keynote speaker Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue thanked local leaders for helping to bring the home to Lenoir County. She also thanked North Carolina’s veterans for their service.

“To the veterans, you are the reason we are here,” she said. “I thank you for what you have done for North Carolina and America. We owe you and your families.”

About 770,000 veterans live in North Carolina. The facility will provide skilled health care and is scheduled to open in 2010. Within a 50 mile radius of the new facility, about 100,000 veterans reside.

Before the groundbreaking ceremony, the Kinston High School 68-member marching band and color guard performed several patriotic songs. Later, members of the U.S. Coast Guard North Carolina Sector and U.S. Air Force fourth fighter wing presented the colors.

Speakers included Perdue, Veterans Administration Secretary Britt Cobb, George Graham, chairman of the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners, Ray G. Smith, chairman of the N.C. Veterans Affairs Commission., Kinston Mayor Buddy Ritch, State Rep. William Wainwright, D-Craven, Speaker Pro-Tempore North Carolina House of Representatives, and Charles Smith, North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs assistant secretary.

“Veterans of east North Carolina deserve this,” Ray Smith said. “We thank the North Carolina legislators for providing the funds.”

North Carolina currently operates two veterans home facilities in Fayetteville and in Salisbury.

In 2006, the N.C. General Assembly approved $8,773,204, the required 35 percent state share, for the construction of the State Veterans Homes in Lenoir County.

A luncheon was held after the groundbreaking ceremony.

Chris Lavender can be reached at (252) 559-1078 or clavender@freedomenc.com.