The closing of Walter Reed marks the end of an era

Walter Reed Army Medical Center will officially close its doors on September 15th. Former and current patients, along with staff members will say their goodbyes on Wednesday in front of the main hospital complex. The closing of Walter Reed marks the end of a storied chapter in American History. Opened in 1909, the hospital was named in honor of Major Walter Reed, a famous Army physician who treated troops and Native Americans living on the frontier. The hospital has cared for wounded veterans for over a century. Several significant leaders in American History have died at Walter Reed including, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, General John J. Pershing, and General Douglas MacArthur. In the rose garden of the complex, some nurses from the Vietnam War era were said to have married their patients. The memorial chapel at the hospital is where President Harry S. Truman went for his first church service after taking office following the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Presidents from William Howard Taft to Barack Obama have greeted wounded soldiers at Walter Reed. After learning of the closing of Walter Reed, Susan Eisenhower, the granddaughter of the former president said, "Frankly, I will say it's with a heavy heart that Walter Reed closes. I don't know. I know that there was a process for that decision, but we've lost a great, important part of history." Mrs. Eisenhower, as someone who greatly appreciates the significance of Walter Reed,  I echo that sentiment. We have, with the closing of Walter Reed Army Medical Center lost a great, important part of history.