San Diego County Gets a Piece of the Rock; Cornerstone Unveiled for Chula Vista Campus, Veterans Home of California.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Oct. 28, 1998--They would be the first to admit, their vision is not as good as when they served on active duty.

Nonetheless, the contingent of older and disabled veterans attending a recent media event watched with approving eyes as the State Department of Veterans Affairs achieved another milestone in the Southern California Veterans Home Project.

The cornerstone for the new $34 million state veterans home in Chula Vista was unveiled Friday afternoon in a ceremony featuring elected officials, local veterans and community leaders.

The festivities included Acting State Secretary of Veterans Affairs Lee Bennett; Wes Barker, project director of the Southern California Veterans Home; Congressman Bob Filner, D-Chula Vista; Chula Vista Mayor Shirley Horton; Assemblymembers Steve Baldwin, R-El Cajon, and Denise Moreno Ducheny, D-San Diego; and San Diego County Supervisor Greg Cox.

Windsor, Calif., resident Bud Sparks, chair of the California Veterans Board and a retired Coast Guard admiral, introduced Bennett at the ceremony.

"Secretary Bennett is a veteran of the United States Navy who has devoted his professional life to the service of his country and to the people of California.

"Following a 30-year career with the California state Legislature, where he served in a wide variety of senior staff assignments, he was appointed by Governor Wilson in 1995 to serve as undersecretary of veterans affairs. In that position, he served as executive officer and had hands-on responsibility in virtually every aspect of public policy relating to California's 3.1 million(a) veterans. In July of 1998, Lee was named acting secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA).

"His genuine concern for the welfare of all veterans, combined with his vast knowledge of fiscal matters, have made him an outstanding voice for veterans in Governor Wilson's cabinet. The Veterans Home of California-Chula Vista, in particular, will benefit in the future from his stewardship," said Sparks.

Following Sparks to the podium, Bennett said, "Thank you Admiral Sparks for that wonderful introduction. Before going on to the pleasant task of introducing the mayor, I want to remember a veteran leader without whom the Chula Vista home would not have come into being. Will you all join me in a moment of silence for our friend and colleague, Ray Mendez.

"I have spent a lot of my life working with elected officials. I know how their response to a project like this veterans home can determine the degree of success it has. The veterans home in Chula Vista is very fortunate to have a person like Shirley Horton at the helm of our host city. A native of Chula Vista, who was a successful businesswoman before entering public service, Shirley Horton has a history of concern for the veterans of this community. Nowhere is that concern more strongly evident than in the work on behalf of this home."

Located on a 30-acre site adjacent to Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center off Telegraph Canyon Road, the Veterans Home of California-Chula Vista (VHC-CV) will be only the third in the state and the first located in a coastal, urban Southern California setting.

The official ground breaking was held on Armed Forces Day in 1997 and, following the state bidding process, construction was started earlier this year. The grand opening is expected to take place in the spring of 2000.

"For the veterans of our region and our local, state and federal legislators who joined forces with the city of Chula Vista, this day is one that calls for celebration," said Horton.

"Together we worked diligently for more than three years to make this significant project a reality. We're pleased that construction is well-underway and we're looking forward to the next milestone, the grand opening."

VHC-CV will be a 400-bed long-term residential and nursing care facility providing options for independent living and intermediate and skilled nursing and Alzheimer's care. When completed, VHC-CV will employ 258, have a $13 million payroll and will contract locally for a variety of supplies and services such as food and maintenance.

The project is funded by $22 million in federal dollars coupled with $12 million in state funding for site preparation, design, engineering, construction, fixtures, equipment and furniture.

In addition, the city of Chula Vista donated the land and waived the development fees for a contribution valued at approximately $4 million. The Sweetwater Union High School District also played a role by making the site available.

The City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission, San Diego United Veterans Council and San Diego County Veterans Advisory Committee are among the groups that joined the city in pursuit of the veterans facility.

San Diego County has more than 300,000 veterans and another 400,000 veterans reside in Imperial, Riverside and Orange Counties.

"We want to take this opportunity to extend thanks again to Chula Vista veterans, including Bill Ayers, Gus Hermes and Robert McCauley, and regional veterans leaders, including Dan Kreyling from San Diego, who had the vision and worked hard to bring this facility to Chula Vista," Horton said.

"Many generations of veterans who will enjoy living at this home owe them a debt of gratitude. In addition, this cornerstone ceremony gives us an opportunity to recognize the cooperative, bipartisan efforts of our elected officials," said Horton.

"These include Gov. Pete Wilson, who recognized the importance of siting a veterans home in Southern California; Congressman Filner, who was instrumental in obtaining federal funding; Senator Steve Peace, who worked tirelessly and authored the state funding bill; and Assemblymembers Ducheny and Baldwin, who lent their full support."

A two-year study by the Governor's Commission on a Southern California Home resulted in a unanimous recommendation in favor of the Chula Vista location. In selecting Chula Vista, the commission highlighted the proximity to the area's acute health care facilities; wide range of commercial, recreational and cultural services that will be available to residents of the facility; and the magnitude of community support.

To qualify for admission to the Barstow, Chula Vista or Yountville campus of VHC, an applicant must be a veteran with an honorable discharge, age 62 or older or disabled and a resident of California at the time of application. For more information regarding the Yountville campus, call 1-800-404-VETS (8387). For the Barstow campus, call 1-800-746-0606.

CDVA is currently accepted preapplications from qualified veterans for the Chula Vista campus. For more information regarding this process, interested persons may call 916-653-2293 or 1-800-925-5626 (Calif.).

(a) Veterans Services Division, California Department of Veterans

Affairs

Note to editors: This release and previous CDVA news releases are available via fax by News On Demand at 1-800-356-8440.