Ribbon-cutting ceremony held for long-delayed VA hospital in Aurora

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Saturday for the new VA hospital in Aurora. The project was $1 billion dollars over budget and 5 years behind schedule. I t’s a day many never thought would come. “I’m glad to see they’re finally open,” said Vietnam veteran, Richard Finnan. He’s now in a wheelchair after suffering a spinal injury in 1962. So having this state of the art facility close to home, is a positive.
“I can hardly wait to get up to the spinal cord clinic because I understand it’s a beautiful layout and it’ll be a clinic that can really take care of the spinal cord injuries,” Finnan said.

With the facility lacking a ptsd unit and having fewer exam and surgical rooms than the VA hospital in Denver. “We’ve had our ups and downs.”

Leaders know it’s not the hospital many were hoping for, but they hope people know their patience is appreciated. “Thank you for your perseverance. Thank you for your team work. Thanks for never giving up,” said state leaders. “This is a facility with state of the art equipment that will give our veterans, the men and women, a state of the art facility that they’ve earned through their military service,” said Congressman Mike Coffman. Even with the wait, veterans like Alfred Lefrance say they’re happy with the end results. “This building is just wonderful. Service is going to be so much better than it was at the old place,” he said. The hospital will be open for patients like Finnan and Lefrance next week.