VETERANS
State pleas to stick with its plan failed, so the designers
had to start over. However, the state agency then appealed to
President Trump, who told the federal officials to revert the
state’s plans.
“So we started over for a third time,” Teegardin said. The
cost would be lower, he said, if the buildings were connected.
While waiting for construction to be complete, his office began
working on an initiative to house homeless vets without
taxpayer funding. So far, homes for eight have been found,
he said.
Murray said the state is interviewing prospective administrators
for key positions including home administrator. More
interviews will come in late spring. The facility will initially
employ between 165 and 175 people.
Shyrell Copas said she is hoping to get a job at the nursing
home. In the meantime, she has been teaching the Character
Development Program designed by the Medal of Honor Society.
“I take my dad’s medal and White House materials when
I teach that program and speak about courage, integrity, sacrifice,
commitment, honor, patriotism and citizenship,” she
said. “These are the characteristics heroes live by every day,
whether they even realize it or not.
“If we cared more about each other than we do things,
what an even more amazing place this would be because I
believe we’re all heroes,” she continued. “The true heroes to
me are the ones who keep us safe every day, not someone
with a cape and super powers.”
Soon, perhaps in three or more months depending on how
soon the coronavirus dissipates, heroes like her dad will be
moving into their new rooms at the Ardie R. Copas State
Veterans’ Nursing Home in Port St. Lucie. E
ARDIE R. COPAS
STATE VETERANS’ NURSING HOME
Address: 10700 S.W. Tradition Square, Port St. Lucie
Website: https://tinyurl.com/CopasHome
For more information: Call the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Homes Program office at 727.518.3202, extension 5562 or call Wayne
Teegardin at the St. Lucie County Veteran Services, 337.5670
A close-up and
detailed look at the
Medal of Honor.
GREGORY ENNS
Port St. Lucie Magazine 21
/www.bestvaluepawn.net
/CopasHome
