Groundbreaking Held For Charles Calvin Rogers Veterans Nursing Facility

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday for a new veterans nursing facility in Beckley. 

The Charles Calvin Rogers Veterans Nursing Facility is named in honor of Fayette County native and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient – U.S. Major General Charles Calvin Rogers.

Rogers, who died in 1990, served in the Vietnam War and was honored for his acts of heroism while wounded near the Cambodian border during Operation Toan Thang II (Complete Victory) on Nov. 1 1968. 

He was presented with the Medal of Honor by President Nixon during a ceremony at the White House on May 14, 1970. He was the highest ranking African-American service member to receive the honor.

Gov. Jim Justice and state officials were joined for Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony by veterans, project managers, and directors from the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance.

“This is a truly special day for West Virginia and for our veterans, especially our veterans in southern West Virginia,” Justice said. “This facility is going to be one of the best in the country, and it should be, because that’s what our veterans deserve. It’s especially meaningful because we get to honor General Charles Calvin Rogers, who is a true American military hero and one of our own.”

The 120 bed state-of-the-art nursing facility will be built next to the Jackie Withrow Hospital on South Eisenhower Drive. 

Financed through a federal grant through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and state dollars set aside for the project, the facility will feature a “small home” model where residents will live in 12-to-15-person communities. The facility will feature common rooms, kitchens, dining areas, and amenities designed to emphasize dignified and autonomous living.

Construction on the facility is expected to take up to two years. 

“We cannot thank Governor Justice enough for his leadership and support of this tremendous and extremely important project,” Ted Diaz, secretary of the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance, said. “I am so pleased for our veterans, and we are honored because this project is a testament to West Virginia’s leadership and the fact that our state is serving those who served. We also couldn’t be more pleased that we’re paying tribute to the remarkable service and career of General Rogers.”

The first state veterans nursing home, in Clarksburg, was opened 15 years ago and primarily serves veterans in north central West Virginia. A veterans home in Barboursville provides a home for 150 West Virginia veterans that were discharged honorably.