WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi announced plans to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility in Wichita, Kansas, for former Senator Robert J. Dole.
“We are delighted to name this VA facility after Senator Dole,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. “He is a war hero, a distinguished American and a great advocate for veterans.”
The new name on the facility will be unveiled November 22 in a ceremony attended by Dole and Principi. A sculpture of Dole will be placed in the medical center lobby. The sculpture, by Mikael F. Sogoian, shows Dole seated in a chair in a contemplative pose.
Dole, a native of Russell, Kansas, joined the Army’s Enlisted Reserve Corps in 1942 to fight in World War II. Severely injured in combat in Italy during 1945, he spent three years in rehabilitation in Army hospitals. He received two Purple Hearts for his injuries and the Bronze Star for his attempt to save another soldier.
Dole later went on to represent the people of Kansas in the House of Representatives and the Senate for 27 years. He held numerous leadership positions, eventually serving as Majority Leader in the Senate for 12 years and Republican party candidate for president for the 1996 election. He has been a vocal advocate for veterans throughout his career.
