|
Medical center for veterans opens in Kerrville
On this day in 1921, the first patients were admitted to the American
Legion Memorial Sanatorium, now known as the Veterans Affairs Medical
Center, at Kerrville. The hospital was established in 1919 as a result of
efforts by the Benevolent War Risk Society of Texas to raise money by
popular subscription to build a hospital for the treatment of World War I
veterans. The Schreiner family of Kerrville deeded property fronting the
Guadalupe River to the society in April 1920, and construction began later
that year. When building was halted due to lack of funds in January 1921,
however, the Department of Texas of the American Legion purchased the
project for one dollar and undertook fund-raising. In April 1921 the
American Legion donated the unfinished buildings and 748 acres of land to
the state of Texas, which subsequently opened the facility. Today the
hospital continues to provide health care to over 18,000 United States
armed service veterans in its primary service area covering fourteen Texas
counties.
- Links to Related Handbook of Texas Online Articles
- VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER, KERRVILLE
- AMERICAN LEGION
- WORLD WAR I
- HEALTH AND MEDICINE
- KERRVILLE, TX
- Other Texas Day by Day Articles for This Date
- Mexican general investigates Texans' restiveness (1832)
- Austin Colony settlers clash with Karankawas (1824)
|
