FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 29, 2007

Chambliss, Isakson, Kingston Introduce Bill to Rename Augusta Veterans Center in Honor of the Late Congressman Charlie Norwood

WASHINGTON —U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., today announced that they have introduced legislation in both chambers of Congress to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, located at 1 Freedom Way in Augusta, Ga., in honor of the late U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood, who passed away on February 13, 2007.   

The legislation renames the facility as the “Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center,” in honor of Norwood’s many years of service to our nation and to our veterans.    The bill is co-sponsored by 75 members of the House including the following members of the Georgia delegation: Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga., Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., Rep. John Linder, R-Ga., Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga., Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., and Rep. David Scott, D-Ga.

“Charlie Norwood was truly an honest and selfless public servant,” said Chambliss.  “Even as he faced personal adversity, Charlie worked tirelessly on behalf of our country’s veterans.  His unceasing passion and integrity earned him the respect of countless colleagues, Georgians, and service members.  Dedicating the Augusta VA to his memory recognizes Charlie’s years of service and his unique legacy to our country.”

“I am so thankful for the contributions Charlie made to our state and to this Congress,” Isakson said. “It is only fitting that we dedicate the Augusta VA Center to a man who was so diligent in his efforts to ensure that the treatment and services we give our veterans are equal to the sacrifice they have made for our country.”

 "Last month, the United Sates lost a great Congressman, dentist, healthcare advocate, veteran, and American in Charlie Norwood's passing,” said Kingston.  “After dedicating his service to the United States Army Dental Corps in the Vietnam War, Charlie spent the rest of his life being a fierce advocate for the overall well-being of veterans. Whether through his defense of funding for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta, pushing legislation restoring life-time healthcare benefits to military retirees, or ensuring disabled veterans received their retired pay, Congressman Norwood was devoted to helping those who had served their country in his role as an elected public official. I am proud to introduce this bill to rename the Augusta VA Medical Center the 'Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.'"

Norwood represented Georgia’s 10 th Congressional District for 12 years and our nation’s veterans were always his top priority.  He worked to pass many laws to improve veterans’ health care and benefits, and made sure that the Veterans Medical Center in Augusta had the resources and tools necessary to meet the needs of veterans in such a strong military community.    

Before serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Norwood served as an Army Captain in the Vietnam War as a member of the United States Army Dental Corps and provided dental, emergency medical and surgical care for United States personnel, Vietnamese civilians and prisoners-of-war.  His brave and compassionate efforts in that conflict earned him the Combat Medical Badge and two awards of the Bronze Star.  He also helped develop the Dental Corps operating procedures under combat conditions, which are now standard, of delivering dentists to forward-fire bases, and providing dental treatment for military service dogs.

After his service in the Army, Norwood returned home to Augusta where he worked as a dentist on base at Fort Gordon and eventually opened his own private dental practice serving patients all around east Georgia including care for military personnel, retirees and dependents under Department of Defense programs and for low-income patients under Georgia Medicaid.

Norwood maintained a life membership in the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Military Order of the World Wars, and he was recognized by the Association of the United States Army for his role in protecting and improving military and veterans’ health care through the presentation of the Cocklin Award in 1998, and through his induction into the Association’s Audie Murphy Society in 1999.

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