WASHINGTON, March 10 -- The office of Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., issued the following column:

Last week I participated in groundbreaking ceremonies to replace the old Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) damaged by Hurricane Katrina with an entirely new facility at its beachfront location in Gulfport. The event was yet another sign of progress in rebuilding efforts on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It also reaffirms the strong commitment our nation has to caring for its veterans.