Businesses rebuild hospital receiving room
By Leslie Quander Wooldridge Published
September 9, 2005 www.gazette.net
Business owners and county officials came together to dedicate a refurbished receiving room at Andrews Air Force Base on Thursday, citing the need for a comfortable welcoming area for wounded troops returning to U.S. soil.
The members of the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable, a nonprofit and nonpartisan alliance of chief executive officers from area businesses, completely rebuilt and refurbished the room, changing it from a simple hospital receiving and recreation area over a period of six months.
Located in the Malcolm Grow Medical Center at Andrews Air Force Base and dedicated on Sept. 8, the new Maryland Room features new state-of-the-art technology as well as a new kitchen, flooring and ceiling.
A resounding theme at the dedication was the need to care for returning soldiers.
Samuel Dean, chair of the County Council, said that he spent 10 years in the Air Force some time ago and noted that soldiers can get lonely when serving. "It is a very difficult challenge that our troops face. A lot of times it’s a thankless job. ... But we’re committed to the people,” he said.
Dean added that county residents are grateful for the work done at Andrews Air Force Base and for the service of overseas troops.
Wounded soldiers typically only stay in the hospital 48 to 72 hours, according to M. H. Jim Estepp, president and CEO of the roundtable, with the base the first stop for them in their journey home.
"It’s a difficult thing to get in the military budget something like this,” Estepp said, explaining that the idea to renovate the room came after talks with base personnel.
Local business owners were able to work together to fund the project.
Brian Pappas, general manager of Mama Stella’s restaurant in Clinton, said the restaurant wanted to support the cause. "You can’t put a price tag on [the service of troops], but anything we can do, we’re happy to help,” he said.
E-mail Leslie Quander Wooldridge at lwooldridge@gazette.net.
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