WALTER REED ARMY HOSPITAL – YES

For Immediate Release: June 10, 2008

For Information: Jim McGrath, (202) 387-1893

In an administration noted for “boneheadisms” too numerous to mention, the Bush/DOD proposal to close Walter Reed Army Medical Center is one of the biggest. With thousands of gravely wounded military needing acute, chronic, and long-term care stemming from the catastrophic Iraq war, we can ill afford to seriously compromise it, which this plan would surely do. Why does TENAC care about this? Simple. There are many veterans among D.C.’s tenant population. They are entitled to the best military care possible, to say nothing of the continuing stream of casualties on the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan. We salute Eleanor Holmes Norton in her valiant struggle to save Walter Reed!

The closure of Walter Reed would make a mockery of Bush’s pledge to provide maximum assistance to U.S. military, active-duty and retired. There is no way a beefed-up naval facility in Bethesda can handle this obligation.

Walter Reed has been a District landmark for a century and should remain open. There are many covetous eyes, Federal and District, eagerly looking at this 113-acre treasure. TENAC says hands off! The U.S. Army has borne the vast majority of U.S. casualties, killed and wounded, in Iraq and throughout history, and deserves its own hospital. For shame, Mr. President, DOD, and Congress, if you close it down.

LONG LIVE WALTER REED HOSPITAL!

D.C. TENANTS’ ADVOCACY COALITION

REPRESENTING ALL D.C. TENANTS

P.O. BOX 7237 WASHINGTON, DC 20044 (202) 628-3688

WEBSITE: www.tenac.org E-MAIL: tenacdc@yahoo.com