Auditor General Jack Wagner to Tour Gino J. Merli Veterans Center in Scranton

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Auditor General Jack Wagner will tour the Gino J. Merli Veterans Center in Scranton from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. The center is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs' State Veterans Home System.

"As a Vietnam veteran, the care of our veterans after their military service is an extremely important issue that should receive the utmost level of priority and attention," Wagner said. "We owe our gratitude to them for their sacrifices and service to this great country. I am privileged to be able to tour the Gino J. Merli Veterans Center and witness the first-class care provided to veterans."

The Gino J. Merli Veterans Center opened as the Northeastern Veterans Center in January 1994. It holds the distinction of being the first newly constructed home for veterans within the state system. In July 2002, the center was renamed the Gino J. Merli Veterans Center in honor of the noted World War II hero and Medal of Honor recipient from northeastern Pennsylvania. The center provides 200 beds, including 160 for full nursing care, 24 for dementia, and 16 for personal care.

Auditor General Jack Wagner is responsible for ensuring that all state money is spent legally and properly. He is the Commonwealth's elected independent fiscal watchdog, conducting financial audits, performance audits and special investigations. The Department of the Auditor General conducts approximately 5,000 audits per year. To learn more about the Department of the Auditor General, taxpayers are encouraged to visit the department's Web site at http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us.

CONTACT: Steve Halvonik, 717-787-1381

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General