Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Jed Boal reportingLegislators approved nearly $20 million to fund a nursing home in Ogden for military veterans.
Veterans groups have pushed for this facility for more than five years. About 100 of them came to the Capitol to watch the funding bill unanimously pass.
The Senate president said the state needs to step up and fill a gap for the federal government. The state will pay up front to build the $19 million nursing home. Federal funding to cover two-thirds of that cost will come through in the next few years.
The Ogden Veterans' Nursing Home will be built on 13 acres of land next to the Browning U.S. Army Reserve Center. Currently, 80 beds are in use at the V.A. hospital in Salt Lake City. The Ogden home will add 120 beds and will create 100 news jobs.
George E. Wahlen, Utah's only surviving Medal of Honor recipient, helped push for the project for years. "It really should have happened earlier, because of the way other states treat their veterans. I'm glad we're coming in line now. I think it's wonderful," he said.
Frank Maughan, of the state committee of Disabled American Veterans of Utah, said, "Veterans who came before me, primarily, will be able to live in dignity."
After the Governor signs the bill, money would be available in July to start the design. Construction would take 18 to 24 months. The facility will be open to any Utah veteran.
