Building at Quincy Veterans’ Home named for local Medal of Honor recipient

Korean War hero Lester Hammond gave his life to protect his unit

QUINCY — Gov. Bruce Rauner announced today that the old Sycamore nursing home in Quincy is being named in honor of Korean War veteran Lester Hammond, who was raised in Quincy. The Medal of Honor recipient was killed in action protecting his unit against heavy enemy fire. He was just 21 years old.

Cpl. Lester Hammond Jr. is buried at Sunset Cemetery on the grounds of the Illinois Veterans’ Home in Quincy (IVHQ).

“Cpl. Hammond was a true hero. His courage and fighting spirit will live on here in Quincy and across the state,” Rauner said. “This building will serve as a reminder of a life that was lost in the cause of freedom and that his selfless courage under fire is a legacy of devotion to the care of his unit that we follow today for our veterans all across the state.”

Cpl. Hammond’s nephew, Brad Richmiller, was in Quincy as the new building was dedicated to his uncle. He said he and his family will be eternally thankful for the recognition.

“Our hearts are filled with pride today, knowing that our uncle’s sacrifice was not in vain,” Richmiller said. “We’d like to thank Gov. Rauner, the staff at the Quincy Veterans’ Home, and everyone who worked to make this possible. I’d also like to personally thank the governor for his commitment to the future of the veterans’ home. I believe it is a moral obligation for us to take care of those who have served us.”

Lester Hammond Hall is the newest addition to the Quincy Veterans’ Home. The State purchased the building in June as part of an expansion of the IVHQ campus. It will provide skilled nursing care for up to 150 veterans and is the next step in ensuring quality health care for our heroes.

“Crews have worked over 70,000 hours to get this building ready for our veterans. It will have all new plumbing and a state-of-the-art water filtration system,” said Mike Hoffman, senior adviser to Gov. Rauner. “I’d like to recognize the skill, work ethic, and dedication of the dozens of Illinois workers who made this rapid renovation possible. Hammond Hall will be a worthy addition to our Veterans’ Home here in Quincy and will provide safe and comfortable accommodations for our residents.”

“We stand with pride knowing that the legacy of a local Korean War hero will live on forever in our community,” said Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Stephen Curda. “We salute Cpl. Hammond and honor the ultimate sacrifice he made while protecting our freedoms.”

There is also progress being made on building a new, world-class facility on the IVHQ grounds. Demolition crews knocked down the old Rowland Barracks building this week. It’s one of several buildings that will be razed ahead of construction.

“I’m pleased that we have been able to cut through the red tape and move forward with this critically important project. This building demolition paves the way for us to quickly start building the new, world-class facility here that our heroes deserve,” Rauner said.

The Rowland Barracks is an old residence hall and programming unit that has been unoccupied since 2006. It’s the first building to come down since Rauner announced plans to rebuild the Quincy Veterans’ Home and incorporate a new piping system that will bring cleaner water to the residents and staff.

The state has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other environmental experts since 2015 to enhance water quality and safety at the Quincy Veterans’ Home. A new water treatment plant was brought online in 2016, point-of-use water filters have been installed on all sinks and showers, and new water heaters have been installed in all residential buildings to thermally treat the water against bacterial contamination.

To further advance the usefulness of the home, Rauner spearheaded an effort to rebuild it with enhancements to accommodate veterans who served in the War on Terror.

The IDVA’s Curda said the new facility’s modern features will prove beneficial for decades.

“We are designing the new facility at Quincy to take care of our veterans’ needs not just today and tomorrow, but for generations to come,” he said. “Behavioral health needs are currently not being met for veterans across the nation. Our investment here will change that and make Illinois a leader in this area.”