The ground breaking ceremony for the new Veterans Affairs Clinic in Junction City took place early Saturday morning.

Senator Jerry Moran addressed the audience about the new 10,000 square foot facility that will be coming to Junction City just off of Hwy 77.

“What became clear was that we needed to make sure that the VA understood the rural nature of where we come from and could they provide services closer to home, where our Veterans live.”

The current VA clinic is about 3500 square feet and has four primary care exam rooms; the new hospital will be able to add an additional clinic as well as employing atleast four new people.

The contract company managing the project is S.I. Property Investment, which is owned and operated by David and Onnie Irvine of Oak Grove, Oklahoma.

“It’s pleasing to see the commitment by our Dept of Veterans Affairs and particulary by our Eastern Kansas officials to make certain that our Veterans here in the Junction City area are cared for; and this expansion makes a significant difference,” said Moran.

Rudy Clover, representing the Eastern Kansas Veterans Affairs spoke on how this new clinic will help local veterans.

“This expansion will improve healthcare access, allow us the additional capacity to expand services to veterans in this area, and help reduce some space deficits that we currently have,” said Clover.

This new clinic will be instrumental in helping improve the coordination of care, and customer satisfaction in the region.

According to Clover, when looking at the “current projections and workload” there was a need for a larger clinic to “help meet the needs of the expected veteran growth in this area of more than 34% in Geary and Riley counties over the next several decades.”

The new VA clinic will be named the Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz VA Health Clinic in memorium/honor of Ret. Lt. General Richard “Dick” Seitz.

Seitz, born in Leavenworth, Kansas was comissioned into the army from Kansas State University as a Second Lieutenant in the infantry.

During his 35 year career in the military, Seitz commanded the 2nd Battallion, 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment during World War II, the 82nd Airborne Division and the XVIII Airborne Corps.

Seitz received a Bronze Star, Silver Star, a Purple Heart, a Legion of Merit and a Distinguished Service Medal with two Oak Leaf clusters.

Seitz retired in Junction City in 1975 where he lived until his death in 2013.

Retired Colonel John Seitz, Dick Seitz’s nephew, and Brigadier General Patrick Frank, the Deputy Commanding General of First Infantry Division, Director Rudy Clover from the VA Eastern Kansas Healthcare System, and the Irvine family from Oklahoma, were also in attendance at the ground breaking ceremony.

Junction City Mayor Mick McAllister and Vice Mayor Phyllis Fitzgerald were also among the attendees.

Senator Moran reminded those in attendance that

Junction City truly is a unique, and special place.

“Here in the Junction City/Fort Riley area we see our community stepping forward to make certain that those who are currently serving, the famiy members of those who currently serve, as well as those who have served in the past are honored and respected.”