thedrifter
01-21-09, 11:37 AM
New military hospital would be a great sign
Published Wed, Jan 21, 2009 12:00 AM
How wonderful it would be to have a new facility for the Naval Hospital Beaufort.
The concept of a replacement hospital building -- to be located at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort -- is exciting. Today, it is simply an unfunded proposal, but it is encouraging to think that a replacement for the 200-bed hospital commissioned in 1949 will be considered.
If it were to happen, surely that would be a strong signal that the two local military installations -- MCAS Beaufort and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island -- would remain key parts of the long-term defense of America.
The hospital provides medical, surgical and emergency care to all active-duty Marines and sailors here, along with their dependents, and retired military personnel living in the Beaufort area.
In addition to serving the nation, the hospital is an important local institution. It employs about 400 active-duty military personnel and civilians. We'd love nothing better than to see the hospital revitalized for another 60 years, at least.
A proposal for a new hospital has been submitted. If it makes it through the priority list for the seven Southeastern states, the earliest it could be funded is 2010.
That prospect also teases the mind about what might happen to the current hospital site off Ribaut Road, if it were no longer needed for military purposes.
The hospital site consists of 127 acres bordering the Beaufort River. It is a beautiful and historically significant site. The beauty includes mature live oaks and river views. And it was in this vicinity that the first public reading of the Emancipation Proclamation took place on New Year's Day 1863.
If the hospital moves, and if the local governments were to control the land left behind, we'd love for future generations to have public access to it. Now is the time to think this through and examine the broad possibilities.
We have seen how slow the transition can be in public land uses. We see it at the Port of Port Royal here and in former military bases along the coastline in North Charleston and Myrtle Beach. We have watched from afar as the state and the city of Columbia try to figure the best use of prime land formerly used for mental institutions.
Such transitions are not quick. And in this case, it is not a given that there will be a change in the land use at the current Naval Hospital Beaufort site.
But it's never too early to think about it, talk about it and dream about the best of all worlds.
Ellie
Published Wed, Jan 21, 2009 12:00 AM
How wonderful it would be to have a new facility for the Naval Hospital Beaufort.
The concept of a replacement hospital building -- to be located at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort -- is exciting. Today, it is simply an unfunded proposal, but it is encouraging to think that a replacement for the 200-bed hospital commissioned in 1949 will be considered.
If it were to happen, surely that would be a strong signal that the two local military installations -- MCAS Beaufort and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island -- would remain key parts of the long-term defense of America.
The hospital provides medical, surgical and emergency care to all active-duty Marines and sailors here, along with their dependents, and retired military personnel living in the Beaufort area.
In addition to serving the nation, the hospital is an important local institution. It employs about 400 active-duty military personnel and civilians. We'd love nothing better than to see the hospital revitalized for another 60 years, at least.
A proposal for a new hospital has been submitted. If it makes it through the priority list for the seven Southeastern states, the earliest it could be funded is 2010.
That prospect also teases the mind about what might happen to the current hospital site off Ribaut Road, if it were no longer needed for military purposes.
The hospital site consists of 127 acres bordering the Beaufort River. It is a beautiful and historically significant site. The beauty includes mature live oaks and river views. And it was in this vicinity that the first public reading of the Emancipation Proclamation took place on New Year's Day 1863.
If the hospital moves, and if the local governments were to control the land left behind, we'd love for future generations to have public access to it. Now is the time to think this through and examine the broad possibilities.
We have seen how slow the transition can be in public land uses. We see it at the Port of Port Royal here and in former military bases along the coastline in North Charleston and Myrtle Beach. We have watched from afar as the state and the city of Columbia try to figure the best use of prime land formerly used for mental institutions.
Such transitions are not quick. And in this case, it is not a given that there will be a change in the land use at the current Naval Hospital Beaufort site.
But it's never too early to think about it, talk about it and dream about the best of all worlds.
Ellie