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July 25, 2007
Libby Motika , Senior Editor
A generous $2-million grant from the Pacific Palisades American Legion Post 283 has advanced the Fisher House Foundation's quest to build a short-term resident facility for American servicemen and women, veterans and their families on the grounds of the West. L. A. VA Health Center.
A groundbreaking ceremony took place last week with guest speakers L.A. City Councilman Bill Rosendahl and Vietnam veteran Capt. Charlie Plumb.
Absent from the event was County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who along with Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Henry Waxman recognize the value of a Fisher House, but declined a request to write letters of support. The representatives have gone on record in support of a master plan for the entire VA property instead of a piecemeal approach, which bypasses the public approval and environmental impact process.
The $6-milliion Fisher House Brentwood, to be located adjacent to the 405 freeway at Sawtelle, will provide short-term lodging for family members of disabled or ill soldiers who are being treated in the nearby VA hospital.
One of 16 Fisher Houses in the United States, the facility will accommodate 21 private bath suites, a common kitchen, laundry, dining room, living room, family lounge area and library. The building will be handicapped accessible and equipped with an elevator.
Although the residents will be responsible for basic housekeeping, the West Los Angeles Health Center has volunteered housekeeping, simple breakfast supplies, linens, utilities, management and maintenance.
The facilities will be free for families during the treatment period of qualified patients.
Like the Ronald McDonald House, Fisher House will provide accommodations for family members while veterans or active-duty service personnel undergo long-term treatment at the VA hospital for everything from military wounds and injuries to chronic illnesses.
Currently, the VA provides only small motel rooms for the patients themselves, a few miles away from the hospital.
American Legion Post 283 unanimously approved the $2-million donation, bringing the Post's total contribution to $2.15 million. The Fisher House Foundation, a family foundation that has facilitated 16 similar facilities will provide help, advice and up to half of the $6 million needed.
'This comes at a crucial time when some members of the community are concerned about the VA property only being used for the benefit of veterans,' said Lou Cozolino, Post 283 commander. 'This Fisher House project is 100 percent devoted to the veterans and their families. This will make Post 283 and the American Legion a real credible organization and show that we really are working for our veterans. In addition to the California State Home for Veterans, the Fisher House is the only other project being built on the West Los Angeles campus at this time.'
The California State Home for Veterans, under construction on a former parking lot off Bringham, north of Wilshire, was approved in good faith that the Veterans Affairs Department in Washington would go forward with the VA master plan, according to Flora Krisiloff, senior field deputy for Supervisor Yaroslavsky, and a member of the Federal Advisory Committee which was established to review the VA's plans for the almost 400-acre property and given the authority to offer options to the federal recommendations.
While the master plan has been stalled for the last 2' years, the State Home facility went through the EIR process and addressed all the concerns of the community, Krisiloff said.
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