New VA Clinic to Be Named after Nunziato
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The new Veterans Affairs clinic on Belmont Avenue will be named after local veteran Carl Nunziato.
The name of the clinic, which is expected to open in February, was made official by the passage of House Resolution 5023 Wednesday, introduced by U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan and cosponsored by the Ohio delegation.
“Today is a red letter day in my book because, in the midst of all that is going on nationally, Congress can still put its differences aside to take time and recognize a true American hero: Mr. Carl Nunziato,” Ryan said in a statement. “The naming of this clinic is a small measure in comparison to what he has accomplished on behalf of our country’s heroes and for those with disabilities. Carl never quits, never has quit, and I am humbled to have the privilege of representing an individual of his caliber in Congress.”
Nunziato was born in Youngstown in 1938 and graduated from Rayen High School and attended Youngstown College, taking part in its ROTC program. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army and served in the Vietnam War. On Nov. 22, 1966, Nunziato lost both of his legs when a mortar round impacted less than three feet away from him.
After returning home, he enrolled at Case Western Reserve University’s law school. During his professional career, he particularly represented veterans and those with disabilities. He was instrumental in bringing a VA clinic to Youngstown in 1991, leading the fight to improve care for the Valley’s then-40,000 veterans who had access to care from a single VA nurse once per week.
“When my name goes on that building, I want it to represent not me, but the entirety of Vietnam veterans, and all the returning veterans of WWII and Korea. Together we paved the way not just for veterans with disabilities, but for all Americans with disabilities,” Nunziato said.
The new clinic will be 35,300 square feet, roughly 40% larger than the current clinic a block north on Belmont Avenue. In each of the past two fiscal years, the existing clinic has served nearly 11,000 veterans. The site will employ 94. In addition to medical care, the Nunziato VA Clinic will also have a volunteer-run food pantry
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
