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WASHINGTON D.C. (March 20, 2008) - Wounded warriors in need in
San Antonio now have a place to call home as they transition from
military to civilian life.
The new facility is Operation Homefront's first of four planned
transitional housing facilities across the United States.
Jody Brothers from the PGA Tour and representatives from local
Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores were on hand to cut the ribbons on
the apartments the Wal-Mart Foundation sponsored.
"Thanks to these and other sponsors, wounded warriors and their
families can live at Operation Homefront Village rent-free so they
can rebuild their financial foundation as they rebuild their
health," said Amy Palmer, Operation Homefront's vice president of
operations.
Medal of Honor recipients Jack Jacobs and Mike Thornton, for
whom the two buildings are named, also participated in the
ribbon-cutting ceremony.
All of the 20 two- and three-bedroom units in the complex are
spoken for, and a waiting list has been established.
Designed for wounded warriors recuperating at nearby military
medical facilities and their families, the units are fully
furnished, including computers and Internet access courtesy of
CDW-G, which offers technology products and services, and Lockheed
Martin, a defense contractor.
The facility also includes a central recreation and community
center housing a food pantry, baby furniture, extra beds and a
video library. Additionally, the center hosts various Operation
Homefront programs. Some of those programs include Wounded Warrior
Wives support group, presentations and meetings with career
counselors, college education specialists, and other experts whom
Operation Homefront has partnered with to help recovering
servicemembers move on with their lives.
Most active duty wounded warriors receiving treatment at Brooke
Army Medical Center are housed in the barracks, base housing or the
Fisher House. However, in its daily collaboration with the U.S.
Army Wounded Warrior Program and other Army case workers, Operation
Homefront quickly realized that there is almost no temporary
housing in America for wounded warriors who have retired or
separated from the military.
"Many of these families have nowhere to live and no money until
they receive their disability benefits from (Veterans Affairs),"
Palmer said. "Thanks to some unique programs being tested jointly
by the Army and the VA, we believe we are seeing the waiting period
for VA benefits decrease. In the meantime, however, many wounded
warriors need a place to live right now. Operation Homefront is
here to help."
Planned Operation Homefront Villages will accommodate needs at
Walter Reed Medical Center here and the National Naval Medical
Center in nearby Bethesda, Md., Balboa Naval Medical Center in San
Diego, and Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Wash.
Operation Homefront is a supporter of America Supports You, a
Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with
servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals,
groups and organizations that are helping support the troops,
visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America
Supports You directly connects military members to the support of
the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their
quest to find meaningful ways to support the military
community.
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