Riverside Walter Reed Hospital’s new $55 million wing was welcomed into the Gloucester community this past week, with Gov. Ralph Northam presiding over a private ceremony last Thursday and the community invited to get a look at all the improvements during an open house on Saturday.

The lobby of the new building was filled to capacity for last Thursday’s event. The new construction includes two operating rooms, seven pre-op rooms, airborne pathogen isolation rooms, inpatient and recovery spaces, 60 additional parking spaces, a new lobby and gift shop, administrative offices, a new staff breakroom, and improved generator and power infrastructure as well as numerous “quality of life” improvements put in place following medical staff’s recommendations.

At the reception, guests enjoyed catering provided by Gary Ward of Olivia’s in the Village and Scoot’s Barbecue while waiting for Northam to arrive. Around 6 o’clock, Gov. Northam took his pl...