The Department of Veterans Affairs breaks ground today on a $656-million hospital and medical complex at Lake Nona.

When completed, the new facility is to include a 134-bed hospital and 118-bed community living center. The new VA Medical Center will be located at Lake Nona, near future campuses of the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, the Burnham Institute for Medical Research, and the Nemours children's hospital.

The complex is expected to serve about 400,000 Central Florida veterans. James Peake, U.S. secretary of veterans affairs, is the keynote speaking at today's event.

"Veterans can be proud of the progress being made," said Timothy W. Liezert, director of the Orlando VA Medical Center. "This event shows that we are one step closer to fulfilling the need for a new VA medical center in the Orlando area."