VA hospital to hold open house

  • Published
  • By Ryan Stark
  • Nucleus writer
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Albuquerque's Raymond G. Murphy Veterans Administration Medical Center is holding an event to re-introduce veterans and the community to the hospital.

According to New Mexico VA Health Care System Public Affairs Specialist Bill Armstrong, veterans and their families are often entitled to more benefits than they are aware. Getting the word out can be challenging, he said.

"We use many methods for disseminating information about our programs," Armstrong said.

He said the VA has a large footprint in New Mexico. In addition to the VA hospital in Albuquerque, there are outpatient clinics in 12 other cities throughout the state.

"We serve nearly 60,000 veterans each year, and they range in age from those who served in World War II to those who have served recently in Afghanistan and Iraq," he said.

The open house will be Saturday starting at 10 a.m. At 11:30 a.m., there will be a town hall meeting for veterans and their families to question and share concerns with VA officials. Walking tours of the hospital will be from 10 to 11 a.m. and the event ends at 1 p.m.

This event is part of the Summer of Service, which is a VA publicity initiative to raise awareness about veterans' issues and concerns.

For more about the local VA hospital, visit www.albuquerque.va.gov.