MENLO PARK, NJ - The Presidential Task Force to Improve Health Care for our Nation’s Veterans will visit New Jersey’s Menlo Park Veterans Memorial Home on 4 September 2002 beginning at 10:00am. 

The Task Force is preparing a report for President Bush outlining ways to better service the veterans community throughout the nation. The task force has worked on a number of issues including how to improve information sharing between the US Department of Defense and Veterans Administration, access to care issues, and issues concerning transitioning to veterans status. The Task Force is now turning its attention to Long-Term care issues.

The purpose of the visit to New Jersey’s Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park is for Task Force members, Mr. John Weston( Deputy Executive Director of the Task Force), Dr. Katherine Swartsel and Mr. Robert Wallace to see first hand this state-of-the –art facility and determine the needs of veterans in long-term care facilities. 

Task Force members will be welcomed by BG Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General and Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs which is responsible for New Jersey’s three Veteran Memorial Homes. They will then receive a briefing on operations at the Menlo Park facilitiy, by the CEO Dr. Melvin Friedman. The briefing will be followed by a tour of the Menlo Park facility.

BG Glenn K. Rieth, commented “ Governor McGreevey and I are committed to improving the health and welfare of New Jersey’s veterans. The Task Force’s visit acknowledges the fact that New Jersey is a leader in caring for veterans.”

Press interested in attending the briefing and tour should contact Veterans Information Officer Natasha Zoe at 609-530-6942

Menlo Park Veterans Memorial Home is located at : 132 Evergreen Road, Edison, New Jersey 08818.