VA director's leaving, praises community

To the Editor:

It is with mixed feelings that I write to notify you and your readers that I will soon be leaving the Poplar Bluff VA Medical Center. I have been asked by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to lead another hospital in Dayton, Ohio, effective Dec. 18, 2011. While I am honored to have been selected by the secretary for this assignment and will welcome the challenges it brings, I am saddened to leave the southeast Missouri/northeast Arkansas community. I have made great friends here and have truly enjoyed getting to know the veterans in the greater Poplar Bluff area.

Upon my arrival here, I was immediately struck by how strongly this area supports its veterans when I was asked to speak at the dedication of the Veterans Memorial by the Coliseum on Veterans Day. The event was impressive, and I knew right away I was in a great location for a career in service to veterans. Throughout my tenure here, I have continued to be inspired by what this community does to honor those who have served.  

When our facility celebrated its 60th year of serving veterans at this medical center, I was honored to see how many local representatives joined us for the occasion. The recent "Welcome Home" and Honor Tour Send-Off events are additional examples of tremendous community support, and our "Valentines for Veterans" concert with Daryle Singletary (and soon, Lee Greenwood) could only be possible through the very generous sponsorship of the business community and Veterans Service Organizations. These events are truly part of my most treasured memories here.

This region has also provided an outstanding forum for our outreach efforts for veterans. The support we got from the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce members presented us with outreach opportunities which resulted in an 8 percent increase in veteran enrollment. This means that an additional 2,000 veterans are now getting VA care, and our market penetration rate is up to almost 50 percent, which is one of the highest in the country. A big part of this accomplishment is the strong support we get from the community, and the Daily American Republic has played a very important role in getting the word out as well.

I have also enjoyed participating in community events like the Chili Bake-Off for the Mission, Iron Horse (the first street party in Poplar Bluff), many events at the Rodgers Theatre, numerous ground-breaking and ribbon cutting ceremonies, and most recently, the start of the new replacement regional medical center.

Tammy and I will always have extremely fond memories of our time here in southeast Missouri. We got to experience everything from float trips down the Current River to dinners at the Wine Rack, and enjoyed it all. I will look forward to staying in touch with the community as you continue to see future developments with the Eight Points Project.

I have been contacted by several individuals who are very interested in assuming leadership of the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. I know that regardless of who gets the job, you will welcome them as you've welcomed me, and I encourage you to help that individual continue what we have started.

Thank you for all that you do in appreciation for America's heroes.

Glenn A. Costie

CEO and Medical Center Director

John J. Pershing

VA Medical Center