The Department of Veterans Affairs health care clinic in Gilbert, Arizona has a new name.
During a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony, Phoenix VA renamed the 60,000 square-foot facility the Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Conrad VA Health Care Clinic.
“We are proud to rename our Gilbert Clinic in honor of Staff Sargeant Conrad and his exemplary military service,” said Michael Welsh, deputy medical center director. “The clinic bearing his name now offers visitors two floors worth of personal memorabilia donated by the Conrad family to keep his memory alive.”
Conrad, a native of Chandler, Arizona, was killed in action in June 2018 at the age of 26, according to a VA blog post. He died from injuries sustained from indirect enemy fire in Somalia. Conrad was a human intelligence officer who served two deployments in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and later a tour to Africa in support of Operation Octave Shield.
The clinic offers medical services to about 20,000 veterans across the East Valley. Services provided include primary care, specialty treatment in mental health, dermatology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, dentistry, and radiology.
Phoenix VA Health Care leadership, along with Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Arizona Department of Veterans Services Director Col. Wanda Wright, and others attended the ceremony. Ten members of the Gold Star Mothers flew in from around the country to attend the event.
Among those making remarks were Conrad’s Army colleagues, including his first non-commissioned officer and military mentor, Sam Rogers. A representative from the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) who served with him in Somalia also spoke.
Conrad’s sister, Christie Palcisko, gave a heartfelt speech that left much of the audience in tears but also laughing at memories of her brother’s love for the song “Africa” by Toto.
Conrad’s parents were presented with framed copies of Public Law 116-295, which renamed the facility on behalf of their son. Wright presented Conrad’s father with the Arizona Gold Star Medal.
Conrad was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star with Valor and the Meritorious Service Medal.
Phoenix VA has plans to open a new 200,000-square-foot “super clinic” in Phoenix next month.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
