Posted on Nov 23, 2013
Do you think we did the right thing changing the name of National Naval Medical Center?
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When BRAC announced that it was going to close Walter Reed Army Hospital the major process began to merge the two hospitals to National Naval Medical Center's location on Wisconsin Avenue. Do you think we did the right thing changing the name of an Historic Icon hand chosen by a President of the United States, to one of an Army heritage with no ties to the Navy whatsoever? While Major General Walter Reed made great changes and advances in Medical Sciences, he did not have any ties to the US Navy at all. President Roosevelt hand choose the location of National Naval Medical Center, and specifically stated that it was to be a Naval Hospital. Do you think we should have kept NNMC as the name, changed the name to what it is now (WRNMMCB), or maybe to something non-descriptive of any of our military branches so as to be neutral such as United States National Military Medical Center? Write your opinion below.
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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PO3 Brenton Holbrook That is a good question, that I am sure that many of in the Navy have asked. I will say the "Name" Bethesda is still used, I have yet to hear anyone say they are going "Walter Reed", everyone says they are going to "Bethesda". The Reserve Operational Heath Support Unit (OHSU) is still OHSU Bethesda. Regardless of what the official name may be now, at least for every Sailor, Marine and Coast Guardsman, it will always be Bethesda.
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Walter Reed in its previous state had become a money pit, it was costing us more to maintain the antiquated facilities more than the benefits of the services provided. While I miss the old facility as I received services their after 3 conflicts served while stationed in DC, also one of my children was born there, I understood the economical loss that it was creating, it was losing over 4-5 million a year in upkeep costs compared to incoming dollars from the community that it served. I know the history and heritage that is there, but at least the name is carried on in some sense instead of losing it completely. I love the new facility that was part of the split at Ft Belvoir which is closer for me than driving downtime DC or Bethesda.
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