Americus, GA (June 20, 2012) -- Former POW Jessica Lynch toured Phoebe Sumter Medical Center this morning after serving as the keynote speaker for the Sumter County Boys & Girls Club Annual Steak & Stake fundraiser last night. Lynch toured the new 183,000 square foot, 76 bed facility with hospital staff members, and was very impressed with both the people and the building as a whole.
"This is definitely one of the most impressive hospitals I have ever seen," said Lynch of the facility that opened four years after an EF3 tornado destroyed the old hospital on March 1, 2007. "Everything is very nice and the people are just as nice as well. I definitely will have to come back and visit!"
Lynch was also impressed with the story of the stain glass windows in the chapel. The windows were one of the few items that was not damaged in the tornado, and they were boxed up days and kept in storage until they were placed in the new hospital, which opened on December 16, 2011. "That is an awesome story, and shows how important faith is and how it can get you through rough times."
Lynch is a former private first class (PFC) in the U.S. Army and a former prisoner of war. She served in Iraq during the 2003 invasion and was the first successful rescue of a prisoner of war since World War II. She was also the first ever female POW to be rescued.
"We were honored to have Ms. Lynch visit us and tour our new facility," said Marcus Johnson, Phoebe Sumter Director of Marketing. "She is a true American hero, and her story of overcoming the odds and perserverance are something that we can all learn from. To have her say such nice things about our facility and people really mean a lot, because she truly has been everywhere and seen it all. We salute and all of our veterans and military personnel for all that they do."