Photo by Bernard S. Little Fort Detrick Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. James Shaheen (left) and Col. Judith D. Robinson, Fort Detrick garrison commander, uncase the Fort Detrick garrison colors Oct. 9 at Forest Glen during a ceremony marking the transfer of authority of Forest Glen and Glen Haven annexes from Walter Reed Army Medical Center Garrison to Fort Detrick Garrison.

Col. Bruce E. Haselden, WRAMC Garrison commander, and Garrison Sgt. Maj. Rolando Moore Jr., cased the WRAMCís Garrison colors, while Col. Judith D. Robinson, Fort Detrick Garrison commander, and Fort Detrick Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. James Shaheen, uncased Fort Detrickís Garrison colors during the ceremony, signifying the change in authority.

The Base Realignment and Closure Commission of 2005 determined that Forest Glen would be formally transferred from the control of Walter Reed to Fort Detrick.

Maj. Gen. Carla G. Hawley-Bowland, commanding general of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command and WRAMC, said Forest Glen played a major role in supporting the care and rehab of U.S. servicemembers since World War II. ěI look forward to continuing that relationship as we consolidate area hospital operations at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda, Md.î

Hawley-Bowland said the transfer of Forest Glen from Walter Reed to Fort Detrick ěmakes senseî since the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research occupies much of Forest Glen and falls under the command of the U.S. Army Medical Research Materiel Command, headquartered at Fort Detrick.

ěUnder Fort Detrick leadership, the annex will continue to provide commissary, exchange and other support services to servicemembers, retirees and their Families in the greater District of Columbia area,î Hawley-Bowland said. ěI thank all of our neighbors who have supported our troops over the years, and more importantly, I thank you for the support of Walter Reed recovering Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.î

Maj. Gen. George W. Weight-man, commanding general of MRMC and Fort Detrick, said the transfer of authority will allow Walter Reed to focus on the challenges of BRAC and integration with the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Md., and DeWitt Health Care Network at Fort Belvoir, Va.

ěThis annex has a history of more than 60 years of taking care of our wounded warriors and doing world-class medical research,î Weightman said. ěThose will continue and we will continue to support them as they daily make advances that affect not only our military community, but the world.î

During World War II, large numbers of casualties led the Army to purchase the former seminary school property at Forest Glen for Walter Reed Hospital in 1942. The property northwest of Walter Reed was then used for convalescing troops.

In subsequent years, Forest Glen became a major contributor to Army medical research and hosted separate medical departments and functions, such as the Army Prosthetic Research lab, the Department of Psychiatry, Armed Forces Pest Management Board, the U.S. Army Physical Disability Agency and Physical Evaluation Board. They were among several labs and activities at Forest Glen over the years.

In 1999, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, established in 1953 at Walter Reed, and co-located with the Naval Medical Research Center, moved to Forest Glen.

The Child Development Center, Commissary, Post Exchange, Arts and Crafts Center, Outdoor Recreation, Veterinary Clinic, and Fisher House are also located at Forest Glen.

Glen Haven has served as the housing area for a number of Walter Reed Families since the 1970s. In 2002, Walter Reedís Family Housing Office joined the Armyís Residential Communities Initiative, or RCI, a program designed to improve the quality of life for military Families. In July 2004, Walter Reedís RCI developer and partner, GMH Military Housing, assumed management of the housing area and began construction of new apartments and town homes, that began opening in 2006 and 2007.