Bronx VA Renamed in Honor of James J. Peters

by Chris Pierson

Mary Ann Peters (center), the widow of James J. Peters, listens to a speaker during the ceremony marking the renaming of the Bronx VA Medical Center in her late husband’s honor. (Photo by Emile Wamsteker)

“Today, we take the final step in honoring the legacy of Jim Peters, a man of tremendous achievements, ability and determination and a champion of veterans and those suffering from spinal injuries. I know that in this audience and on the dais that there are people who knew Jim Peters very well and understood what a unique human being he was. I am grateful we are here today, not only to name a building in his honor, but also to honor his memory, by continuing his advocacy on behalf of the region’s veterans. Our greatest challenge is to make sure we don’t turn our backs on our soldiers when they come home.”

These words were spoken by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York to a crowd of veterans and VA staff, political dignitaries, and employees and family members of the late James J. Peters at a ceremony on September 26th before what was known until that morning as the Bronx Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). By the time the ceremony was over, the facility where Peters underwent his rehabilitation after sustaining a spinal cord injury (SCI) as a young Army lieutenant in 1968 and into which he had invested so much of his and his beloved United Spinal Association’s time, money and energy, would be officially renamed, in his honor.

Senator Clinton and other speakers at the ceremony-including Secretary of the VA James Nicholson, U.S. Representatives Joseph Crowley and Anthony Weiner, United Spinal Association Executive Director Gerard M. Kelly, VAMC Director MaryAnn Musumeci and James Farsetta, who heads Veterans Integrated Service Network 3, of which the VAMC is part-all spoke of Peters as a man whose determined personality and tireless action contributed greatly to making the hospital one of the premier centers for SCI care in the nation. “Over the years, through Jim’s leadership, we have done very many things for this hospital and for veterans in general,” Kelly told the crowd. “I can’t think of a more appropriate person to name this hospital after, because it wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him.”

Peters launched his career with United Spinal (then known as Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association) in 1969 after his rehabilitation at the Bronx VA. His rehab experience at the Bronx VAMC convinced Life magazine to run a cover story in 1970 exposing the deplorable conditions facing Vietnam veterans with SCI. The story sparked a national outrage and convinced Congress to raze the Bronx facility and build a brand new hospital with special attention to SCI. In 1989, Peters helped establish the Spinal Cord Damage Research Center at the Bronx VA, which has since become one of the leading SCI research facilities in the country.

In addition to his commitment to research and education, Peters’s legendary gift for getting services to those in need of medical treatment, legal representation, VA benefits, adaptive equipment, or the simple companionship of fellow veterans won him the admiration and affection of people everywhere. Since his untimely death in September 2002, Peters’s vision has been greatly expanded to include all Americans with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D).

The effort to rename the Bronx VAMC in his honor began shortly after Peters’s death. Senator Clinton, who has worked closely with United Spinal, particularly on veterans issues and who, with Congressman Christopher Smith of New Jersey, won one of the first James J. Peters Veterans Leadership Awards in 2003, spearheaded the drive to rename the Bronx VAMC in the Senate. Representative José Serrano of the Bronx, who was unable to attend the ceremony, was the original sponsor of the legislation in the House. The measure was signed into law by President Bush on November 17, 2004.

“Renaming the Bronx VA Medical Center in memory of Jim Peters is a fitting tribute to a man who served his country and his fellow veterans, especially those with spinal cord injuries,” said Kelly. “Jim’s impassioned dedication led the charge for quality health care both here in the Bronx and nationally. He was the driving force behind the creation of the VA’s unparalleled SCI programs and we thank both Senator Clinton and Congressman Serrano for recognizing Jim’s contributions through this legislation.”

Chris Pierson is managing editor of Orbit.