RIPON – Pastor Mike Dillman of the Place of Refuge Church in Manteca also serves as the chairman of the “Not Forgotten” Welcome Home Heroes Foundation.
His group is committed to assisting military veterans of the greater San Joaquin Valley region.
Dillman, who spoke on behalf of the Welcome Home Heroes Foundation at last Tuesday’s Ripon City Council meeting, said the Welcome Home Heroes Foundation has been lobbying for the proposed Veterans Hospital to be located in French Camp near San Joaquin General Hospital.
The other possible site is University Park near St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton.
“The St. Joseph’s area has one of the highest crime rates,” said Dillman, who described the proposal as a 120-bed facility. “Parking is a challenge and hotel accommodations (for families) are not as good.”
By contrast, he noted that the French Camp site is easily accessible off Interstate 5 and not too far from the hotels and other accommodations in Lathrop and the surrounding areas.
According to Dillman, Vince Castro from his group recently returned from Washington, D.C., where he met with local representatives to lobby is support of a VA hospital in French Camp.
“Ripon has many veterans and I’m certain that they would appreciate (Council support) in making sure the VA settles in French Camp,” said Dillman.
Elected officials did just that by voting unanimously supporting a proclamation for “Not Forgotten” Welcome Home Heroes Foundation.
The proclamation read: “The Welcome Home Heroes Foundation desires that the proposed VA Hospital be built in French Camp near the San Joaquin General Hospital.”
Dillman and his group are scheduled to attend Monday’s Lathrop City Council meeting with the same proposal.
“The French Camp location is heavily favored,” he said. “We want to tilt it 100 percent (in favor of the area).”
His group is committed to assisting military veterans of the greater San Joaquin Valley region.
Dillman, who spoke on behalf of the Welcome Home Heroes Foundation at last Tuesday’s Ripon City Council meeting, said the Welcome Home Heroes Foundation has been lobbying for the proposed Veterans Hospital to be located in French Camp near San Joaquin General Hospital.
The other possible site is University Park near St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton.
“The St. Joseph’s area has one of the highest crime rates,” said Dillman, who described the proposal as a 120-bed facility. “Parking is a challenge and hotel accommodations (for families) are not as good.”
By contrast, he noted that the French Camp site is easily accessible off Interstate 5 and not too far from the hotels and other accommodations in Lathrop and the surrounding areas.
According to Dillman, Vince Castro from his group recently returned from Washington, D.C., where he met with local representatives to lobby is support of a VA hospital in French Camp.
“Ripon has many veterans and I’m certain that they would appreciate (Council support) in making sure the VA settles in French Camp,” said Dillman.
Elected officials did just that by voting unanimously supporting a proclamation for “Not Forgotten” Welcome Home Heroes Foundation.
The proclamation read: “The Welcome Home Heroes Foundation desires that the proposed VA Hospital be built in French Camp near the San Joaquin General Hospital.”
Dillman and his group are scheduled to attend Monday’s Lathrop City Council meeting with the same proposal.
“The French Camp location is heavily favored,” he said. “We want to tilt it 100 percent (in favor of the area).”
