June 22, 1921
On this day in 1921, the first patients were admitted to the American Legion Memorial Sanatorium, now known as the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, at Kerrville. The hospital was established in 1919 as a result of efforts by the Benevolent War Risk Society of Texas to raise money by popular subscription to build a hospital for the treatment of World War I veterans. The Schreiner family of Kerrville deeded property fronting the Guadalupe River to the society in April 1920, and construction began later that year. When building was halted due to lack of funds in January 1921, however, the Department of Texas of the American Legion purchased the project for one dollar and undertook fund-raising. In April 1921 the American Legion donated the unfinished buildings and 748 acres of land to the state of Texas, which subsequently opened the facility. Today the hospital continues to provide health care to over 18,000 United States armed service veterans in its primary service area covering fourteen Texas counties.