Veterans thank legislator for securing health clinic

On the day of the grand opening of the new health clinic for veterans at the Nassau University Medical Center, members of East Meadow’s VFW Post No. 2736 wore T-shirts expressing their appreciation for Legislator Norma Gonsalves’s leadership in getting the center moved from Plainview to its new home. Last week, the veterans told her in person how important she was to attaining their long-sought dream.

“It’s Norma’s day,” said Veteran Francis Naimoli. “We wanted to get her here to thank her. The clinic is wonderful, but it wouldn’t be possibly if Norma wasn’t interceding for us. She is a spark plug for us.”

The VFW honored Gonsalves at a special luncheon on April 20 at Verdi’s in Westbury. The outpatient health clinic, operated by Veterans Affairs, is double the size of the old facility in Plainview, which had been described as dilapidated.

For VFW Post Commander Sal Pellegrino, who worked closely with Gonsalves through the ups and downs of the project, which encountered numerous hurdles and barriers over two decades, the new clinic means more than serving the older veterans.           

“I’m very happy because I don’t want to see the young kids now go all the way to Northport when they should go here,” Pellegrino said.” It’s not for me, it’s not for my generation, it is for what’s following us.”

Before the clinic was officially opened earlier this month at an emotional ribbon cutting, veterans had two options for basic V.A. health care: trek more than an hour to the Northport hospital or take the limited services and tight quarters at the Plainview clinic. 

The new V.A. Clinic, housed at the NUMC’s Building Q, features a state-of-the-art triage center, 14 new exam rooms, and exemplary doctors dedicated solely to Nassau veterans. It serves about 80 veterans a year, and is expected to take in about 5,000 patients a day. 

Pellegrino lauded the legislator for her relentless and dedicated effort. 

“She deserves every bit of glory they give her,” he said. “She made every meeting at the hospital for the last seven years. She never gives up.”

Gonsalves was grateful for the reception, and noted that the opening of the Veterans Health Clinic tops her list of achievements since she entered office in 1997.

“In 14 years, if I did nothing else but get that clinic opened, then it was all worth it,” she said.

Hours of operation at the Primary Care Clinic for veterans are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hours for the mental health clinic are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Handicapped parking is available in front of Building Q. Free parking is available for veterans next to the clinic. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call (631) 754-7978 for primary care or (631) 261-4400 ext. 2207 for mental health services