Walter Reed closing after more than 100 years of treating wounded troops

[Playinghardball]

Source: MSN

Historic Army hospital to move to new location in Bethesda, Md.

WASHINGTON — The storied Walter Reed Army Medical Center is retiring its ceremonial flags on Wednesday, as it prepares to close its doors after more than a century of treating wounded American fighters and presidents.

Walter Reed has treated some 18,000 troops that fought in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower, who died there, and Gens. John J. Pershing and Douglas MacArthur.

The present facility, together with its current patients, will be moving to a new location in Bethesda, Md., throughout August, prior to shutting its doors on Sept. 15.

But the official "casing of the colors" at the 102-year-old institution -- as the ceremony to retire the hospital's flags is known -- was taking place on Wednesday.

More at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43911995/ns/us_news-life/t/walter-reed-closing-after-more-years-treating-wounded-troops/?gt1=43001

[MineralMan]

1. The physical plant that was Walter Reed

had grown long in the tooth, and needed to be replaced. This is not bad news. 100-year-old hospitals rarely can provide the same care as a modern facility.

[Raven]

2. That was my hospital during the Vietnam war. My son was born there.

I was in for 3 days and the bill was $5.23. It was for food. :-)