Congressman Jerry McNerney earlier this month announced that he is accepting suggestions from local veterans for names to be considered during the naming process for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (COBC) in French Camp. Congressman McNerney has appointed a committee of five veterans who will collect and review the submitted names and provide a recommendation to the Congressman for the naming of the facility, which will serve veterans throughout the region.
“Our local veterans have played a significant role in bringing a new VA clinic to our community,” said Congressman McNerney. “They have been my motivation and my partners as I pushed for funding for this clinic in Congress, and as we head toward completion, it is important to me that they also lead on the naming of the place where they will soon be able to receive their care.”
Naming the facility requires an act of Congress, which has certain requirements for such a name. If the facility is named after a person, that person must be deceased. In addition, the person must have been a veteran who was instrumental in the construction or operation of the facility, awarded the Medal of Honor, or performed military service of an exemplary character. The deceased individual may also have been a member of Congress who was directly involved with the construction of the facility or a VA Administrator or Secretary, the Secretary of a service branch, or civilian or military official of comparable or higher position, or someone who has performed outstanding service for veterans.
The deadline for local veterans to submit suggested names for the French Camp VA CBOC is Sept. 1, 2021. Veterans may submit suggestions to Congressman McNerney’s Stockton office via web form, mail, fax, or email.
Web Form: https://mcnerney.house.gov/services/french-camp-va-community-based-outpatient-clinic-naming
Mail: Office of Congressman Jerry McNerney2222 Grand Canal Boulevard, Suite 7, Stockton, CA 95207
Fax: (209) 476-8587
Email: Clinic.Naming@mail.house.gov
If submitting by email, fax, or mail, the following information must be included: Name; Title/Organization (if applicable); Street; Apt./Unit; City, State, Zip; Phone; Email. Are you a veteran? Yes/No; If yes, what branch and when did you serve?; Are you a member of a Veteran’s Service Organization (VSO) (for example: VFW, DAV, American Legion, etc.)?; Name you are submitting for the French Camp Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC).
Also, those suggesting a name are asked to provide an explanation of why you think the name you are submitting is the most appropriate for the CBOC.
The names submitted by local veterans will be reviewed by the VA CBOC Naming Advisory Committee, which is comprised of five veterans who were appointed to the Committee by the Congressman to advise him on the naming of the facility: Gail Belmont, Army veteran from Valley Springs; Cary Martin, Stockton Air Force veteran; Ron Green, retired San Joaquin County Veterans Service Officer and Navy veteran; Lanny Bauer, Marine Corps veteran of Stockton; and Sam Pachuca, Stockton Veterans of Foreign Wars Luneta Post 52.
“The VA CBOC Naming Advisory Committee will engage with local veterans and veterans’ service organizations to encourage submissions for the naming of the new clinic,” continued Congressman McNerney. “I want to thank the members of this committee for volunteering their time to help with this naming process.”
Rep. McNerney serves the constituents of California’s 9th Congressional District that includes portions of San Joaquin, Contra Costa, and Sacramento counties. For more information on McNerney’s work, follow him on Facebook and on Twitter @RepMcNerney.
