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U.S. Military HONORS! Page-13
 

The
ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME
consists of the
U.S. Soldiers' and Airmen's Home (USSAH) in Washington, D.C.
and the U.S. Naval Home (USNH) in Gulfport, Miss.


 
 
Naval Home

Gulfport Mississippi
Soldiers' and Airmen's Home

Washington DC
Both homes are continuing care retirement communities open to all branches of the military and provide the highest quality of residential, social and health care services to retirees and certain veterans.

Established in the mid-1800s, the USSAH and USNH were created as "asylums" for old and disabled soldiers and sailors.

During the ensuing 150 years, the homes evolved into retirement communities that offer a secure, comfortable life style filled with activity for the residents.
More background on the two homes:
...U.S. Soldiers' and Airmen's Home
...U.S. Naval Home
Text was excerpted from
Homes For Heroes   (A DOD link) 
Also see the
ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME
website for more information.		 Current residents:
approx. 1,600   (As of Spring 2003)
  • ARMY: 600
  • Navy: 400
  • Air Force: 500
  • Marine Corps:100
  • Women: 150
  • Average Age: 76
  • Average Years of Service: 21 years
  • Average Time at AFRH: 10.6 years
    • Combat Service:
  • 95% served in a war theater
  • 80% served in WWII
  • 30% in Korea
  • 10% Vietnam
    		•
     
    Nearly 1,600 veterans currently reside at the AFRH, representing every war from WWI through Desert Storm. They are sailors, soldiers, airmen and Marines and come from every state in the Union, including Puerto Rico and the Philippines. Their average age is 76. Nearly 93 percent of the residents retired with 20 or more years in the military and 97 percent served in a war theater. Women comprise 9 percent of the population and, like the men, are mostly retirees.

    Although their names may not be listed in history books, many were heroes and all played a part in defending freedom at the risk of their lives. At the AFRH are veterans who:

  • Survived the Bataan Death March
  • Experienced the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor, Midway, Guadalcanal
  • Flew in an ill-fated glider battalion on D-Day
  • Fought during the invasions of Normandy, Iwo Jima and Okinawa
  • Were casualties of the Battle of the Bulge
  • Spent years as U.S. POWs in Japan, Germany and Korea
  • Defended Burma/China as a Merrill's Marauder
  • Endured North Korean death march under the infamous "Tiger"
  • Flew helicopter combat missions in Vietnam
  • Caught in the Tet Offensive and survived a saga with Agent Orange
  • Fought from Pusan to the Yalu and back in rugged Korean terrain.
    		•
     
    History and current status of

    the original Naval Home (Asylum)
    U.S. Naval Asylum, 2420 Grays Ferry Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

    Fifteen years of demolition-by-neglect ends in five-alarm fire Blaze
    damages but does not destroy the building -- engineers say it can be saved
    Click for full image
    The Naval Asylum image is linked on the MAP LIST
    of PLACES IN TIME: Historical Documentation of Place in Greater Philadelphia
    A subset of http://www.brynmawr.edu/
    The image link on MAPLIST may be accessed by using your browser FIND feature. Keyword = Asylum.


     
    Current information about our VETERANS' HOMES programs

    Locations of Veterans' Homes within States

      In addition to the two national Armed Forces Retirement Homes in Washington DC and Gulfport Mississippi there are Veterans' Homes located within each state.
    For more information about the State Veterans' Homes go to the
    Armed Forces Veterans Homes Foundation
    Click on HOMES AND HEROES and select from the pull-down menu.
    NAMES, ADDRESSES and CONTACT INFO is displayed for each home.

    What they say about the State Veterans Homes:

      "Our nation was faced with a staggering number of soldiers and sailors in critical need of medical care following the Civil War, and although the national homes were in operation at the time, their capacity was inadequate to meet the demand. At that time, several states established veterans homes, at their own expense, to provide for those residents who had served so honorably in the military.

      In 1888, the U.S. Congress authorized federal cost-sharing for state veterans homes-about 30 cents per resident per day. Since the creation of the Veterans Administration in 1930, the program's per diem payments have increased to $50. In addition, the administration now recognizes three levels of eldercare and has authorized joint funding for construction of new facilities.

      There are currently about 19,200 residents at the 110 homes in 47 states and one U.S. territory. Upon admission, residents are typically incapacitated or unable to earn a living and require long term, skilled nursing care."

    And from the "VA"...
    State and Territory Veterans Offices

    The Federal Government's DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS also has a convenient listing of direct links to the respective Veterans Affairs offices within the States and Territories. GO HERE

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