Officials to dedicate Center for the Intrepid at Fort Sam Published Jan. 23, 2007 FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (AFNEWS) -- Officials here are opening the Center for the Intrepid and two Fisher Houses Jan. 29 in a dedication ceremony at the Brooke Army Medical Center.More than 3,000 people, including wounded and recovering military service members and their families, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace, and Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain who supported the construction of the center, will participate in the dedication ceremony for The Center for the Intrepid -- a $50 million, 65,000 square foot, state-of-the-art physical rehabilitation center -- and two new Fisher Houses for hospitalized military members' families. The dedication also features a performance by singer John Mellencamp and a military flyover. Other expected special guests include Denzel Washington, Rosie O'Donnell and country music group Big & Rich. This project was made possible by the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which provides assistance to our nation's military heroes who have been critically injured in the performance of duty and their families, and the Fisher House Foundation. The IFHF raised more than $90 million for military families, including funds for the center, which also is known as the Armed Forces Physical Rehabilitation Center.The Brooke Army Medical Center here plays a critical role in patient care, especially wounded servicemembers from the war on terrorism, and in graduate medical education and research. As the Army's only certified Level 1 trauma center, BAMC receives more than 4,000 emergency room visits each month. BAMC is one of only 15 hospitals in the United States that holds both Level 1 trauma certification and accreditation from the American Burn Association. The hospital has cared for more than 2,400 service members including Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen, who were injured in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) Click here to view the comments/letters page