PORT ANGELES – The new Veterans Affairs Clinic lost its “virtual” Tuesday.

“Starting today, I think we should eliminate the word ‘virtual’ because this clinic is very real,” Eric Lewis, CEO of Olympic Medical Center, said as the facility officially opened.

“We’re banning that word,” echoed U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Belfair, in an interview with the Peninsula Daily News.

“Virtual” was spliced to the name because the VA doesn’t own the building at 1005 Georgiana St., but instead leases it from OMC for $1 a year.

Whatever you call it, it’s the first of its kind in the nation.

It opened ceremonially on Tuesday with speeches from Dicks, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Freeland, and officials of the VA and the hospital.

Later in the day, Dicks also toured the Jefferson County Courthouse clock tower.

At the VA Clinic, a crowd of about 70 people gathered for the program and a tour of the facility, which housed a two-doctor private practice before OMC bought it.

Many heads in the audience were covered with American Legion, Marine Corps League or Veterans of Foreign Wars caps.