President salutes wounded Airman at medical center groundbreaking

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Matt Proietti
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
BETHESDA, Md. (AFPN) --  A scar peeked out from beneath the navy blue beret Staff Sgt. Scott Lilley borrowed to wear July 3 during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center here.

"Luckily we have the same size head," said the cap's owner, Staff Sgt. Michael Barczik of Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Both were deployed to Iraq as security forces when Sergeant Lilley suffered a brain injury there April 15, 2007, after an improvised explosive device damaged his vehicle.

The noncommissioned officer underwent part of his recovery at Bethesda's National Naval Medical Center, which will grow and undergo a name change and a $970-million renovation. The new construction will add or renovate 2.5 million square feet of space in the largest single capital investment ever made in the military health system.

President George W. Bush spoke at the ceremony and was joined in a ceremonial turning of dirt at the construction site by elected officials, military medical officers and troops recovering from wounds. One of those was Tech Sgt. Christian MacKenzie, a helicopter flight engineer who was injured in 2004 when a rocket-propelled grenade was fired into his aircraft.

"Military doctors are revolutionizing how we approach traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder and amputate care," President Bush said. "This will be the site of many more promising breakthroughs that will benefit not only our brave troops but all of mankind."

The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended integrating the Army and Navy's largest hospitals, Walter Reed Army Medical Center of Washington, D.C., and the Navy's Bethesda facility. Army, Navy and Air Force medical services in the region will work together at the center to better utilize resources.

President Bush met Sergeant Lilley several times during his recovery and his staff invited the 29-year-old Roswell, N.M., native to sit in the front row at the ceremony. Sergeant Lilley departed his station of Minot Air Force Base, N.D., in such a hurry that he left behind the beret that signals he is a member of Air Force security forces.

Sergeant Barczik loaned him his. The two remained in touch, but hadn't seen each other in about a year.

"He called and just asked if I wanted to hang out," Sergeant Barczik said. "I said, 'Without a doubt.' Then he invited me to this ceremony, which is a great honor. He was my battle buddy. When we got frustrated, we talked to each other about whatever we needed to talk about."

President Bush recalled first meeting Sergeant Lilley a year ago at the White House.

"I was one that felt this guy had no chance,'" he said. "Yet the doctors here used state-of-the-art technology and aggressive treatment to get Scott better. Their perseverance paid off, and so has his.

"He drives a car, he goes to baseball games, he loves to joke. His doctor calls Scott's recovery 'miraculous' and thanks to the extraordinary care he received at Bethesda, as well as his own extraordinary resolve, he is now back on active duty in the Air Force and we are glad you're here."

The crowd gave Sergeant Lilley a 30-second standing ovation, which was followed by representatives from each service carrying gold-painted shovels to the ceremonial party onstage. A Marine Corps NCO barked the order, "Present...shovels," followed by the more traditional, "Present...arms" at which time they saluted those onstage.

Together with a new 120-bed community hospital that will be built at Fort Belvoir, Va., the two facilities will constitute the nation's premiere regional military health care system. The base closure law requires construction to be complete by Sept. 15, 2011. 

Sergeant Lilley returned to work Feb. 28 and reviews security instructions and guidelines that demonstrate what is required of each security forces job. Brig. Gen. Mary Kay Hertog, director of Air Force security forces, was at the dedication ceremony and said she plans to transfer Sergeant Lilley to teach at the Security Forces Academy at Lackland AFB, Texas.

"I visited him several times here. He's a great young man and I want him to be able to have (his) time in the Air Force," she said. "What a job for him to be able to stand up in front of those students. I look at him as a miracle."

Sergeant Lilley was also accompanied by his father, Frank A. Lilley, though his mother remained home in New Mexico to prepare for an Independence Day party.

"I thought my tears were all gone," said Mr. Lilley. "One of the benefits of this is that we got to meet Scott's family. Until this happened, I really didn't know Scott's family. The Air Force is his family. The military (has) been great for him. He loves it. He loves being a cop."