Name for vet clinic marches forward

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The U.S. House passed a measure last week to name the newly opened Alexandria veterans’ clinic after Max J. Beilke.

U.S. Representative Collin Peterson, D-Minnesota, who sponsored the bill, said: “Sergeant Beilke was a true advocate for veterans, and naming this clinic for him is a reminder of his tireless service.”

Beilke served 22 years in the Army and was the last U.S. combat soldier to leave Vietnam in March of 1973. He died in the September 11, 2001 terrorists’ attack on the Pentagon.

Beilke, a 1950 Alexandria High School graduate, served 22 years of active duty in the U.S. Army in Germany, Korea and Vietnam.

After his retirement, he served as deputy chief of the Army’s Retirement Services and was an active member of the Army Chief of Staff Retiree Council.

He was awarded the Defense of Freedom medal and the Meritorious Civilian Service Award. He was buried December 11, 2001 at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

The Alexandria Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient clinic is located at 515 22nd Avenue East.

The clinic is expected to serve 3,500 veterans from the counties of Douglas, Grant, Pope, Stevens, Todd and Wadena. However, veterans may receive care at the VA facility of their choice, regardless of their place of residence.

Services offered include primary care; specialty care referrals to the St. Cloud and Minneapolis VA medical centers; mental health services; social work services; clinic pharmacy services; laboratory services; home-based primary care; prescription processing by mail, telephone and Internet; tobacco cessation counseling; and nutrition services.

For more information or appointments, call (320) 759-2640.

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