Missouri Veterans Commission News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 26, 2010
Missouri Veterans Home - Mexico Celebrates 25 Years of Taking Care of Veterans
The Missouri Veterans Home in Mexico, Missouri will mark 25 years of providing quality care and service to Missouri's Veterans on April 10, 2010 with a celebration and ceremony starting at 1:00 pm at the Veterans home located at #1 Veterans Drive in Mexico, Missouri.
Selected as the site of Missouri's third state Veterans home, the city was informed on December 6, 1979 that the land had to be turned over to the state of Missouri by January 1, 1980. With a purchase price of $75,000, the residents and community of Mexico accepted the challenge, raising a little over $100,000 in 23 days to purchase the land.
Groundbreaking occurred March 20, 1983 and the first resident was admitted on April 8, 1985. Since that time, the Missouri Veterans Home – Mexico has cared for over 1,180 Veterans representing service in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Bosnia, and peacetime.
Events for the ceremony include the posting of colors by Centralia VFW #6276 and remarks by Senator Wes Shoemyer, Representative Steve Hobbs, and Missouri Veterans Commission Executive Director Larry Kay. Refreshments and tours of the facility will be available.
"For 25 years, the staff of the Mexico Veterans Home have demonstrated Missouri's commitment to support and respect Veterans by providing the long-term care they deserve," said Missouri Veterans Commission Executive Director Larry D. Kay. "Missourians should be proud of the quality care given to those who wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America for an amount of 'up to and including my life.’”
For more information on the Missouri Veterans Home – Mexico or its 25th Anniversary celebration, contact Susan Paden, Mexico Veterans Home Volunteer Services Director at 573-581-1088, ext. 286 or by email at susan.paden@mvc.dps.mo.gov.
The Missouri Veterans Commission operates seven State Veterans Homes, five State Veterans Cemeteries, and the Veterans Services Program. The Commission is committed to honoring and serving Missouri's Veterans whose dedication and sacrifices have preserved our nation and its freedoms. For more information about the Missouri Veterans Commission programs, call 573-751-3779 or access the Missouri Veterans Commission webpage at www.mvc.dps.mo.gov.
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For more information, call 573-522-1421 or e-mail Daniel.Bell@mvc.dps.mo.gov