Enlisted Village: a new Bob Hope

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Solomon Cook
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Tyndall hosted the Bob Hope Village enlisted widows Aug. 27 at the Horizons Community Center.

During this event students of the Paul Airey NCO Academy diligently listened to the stories of Bob Hope Enlisted Village e widows and were given the opportunity to ask the members of the dais questions about their lives and advice to maintain a long happy life in the military.

A brief history of the organization is on Facebook. The Air Force Enlisted Village (formerly the Air Force Enlisted Widows Home Foundation) was founded in 1967 after the Air Force Sergeant's Association conducted a survey and found that more than 50,000 widows of enlisted Airmen were living in poverty. A group of active-duty and retired Air Force noncommissioned officers with the assistance of former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John D. Ryan and his wife set about to correct this deficiency. Their goal was to provide a home for surviving spouses of enlisted Air Force members.

Since its inception, it has been the mission of the organization and the Bob Hope Enlisted Village to tend to its residents.

"I have been out to the Bob Hope Enlisted Village; I think it is an extremely nice facility," said Tech. Sgt. Antonio Good, Paul Airey student registrar office NCO in Charge. "It is a very family oriented and definitely a place that feels homey .  From the staff to the residents, there is feeling of warmth, love and security there. With them coming here, it truly was an honor.  I actually felt appreciative of what we do because they were so thankful, charismatic and displayed so much pride for not only our nation but for our armed forces as well."

During the question and answer period, the Bob Hope Enlisted Village residents told stories from their time while their husbands were active-duty, as well as what they do today.

"I've been there 10 years; it's a safe haven out of harm's way, that's the way I look at it," said a Bob Hope Village resident. "The fellowship with widows, we are all in the same boat, we all have been there and done that. We all just brag about our husbands and kid while out to lunch. We also take time to give back and volunteer in charities, but it's a wonderful place. If you have mothers or know elderly people that need a place, the Bob Hope Enlisted Village is the place to be."

Although the residents of the Bob Hope Enlisted Village may not have come to live  there as widows, the professionals of the community help them through their golden years and with any problems they may have.

"I have lived in Bob Hope Village since 1999. I have had plenty of support; the people, all of the staff have helped me a great deal," said a Bob Hope Village resident. "My husband had Alzheimer's from the time I moved in until he died four years ago.The services provided helped me through that time. We have a wonderful church, neighbors and staff. To this day, I still love to go to the chapel, and on Wednesday nights there is an assisted living chapel service."

Although their husbands may be gone, the Air Force still takes care of their own. The Bob Hope Enlisted Village enlisted widows reside in housing communities where their security, wellbeing and social interaction are facilitated by the staff as well as with the kindness of volunteers called "honey doers".

In addition to a well-staffed chapel service, the Bob Hope Enlisted Village residents usually keep themselves busy by doing activities together such as swim aerobics and others.  All the while, they take time for each other and regale eachother with tales of their younger years. On this occasion, however, students of the Airey NCOA were given the opportunity to hear anecdotal stories from widows of a prior generation and soak up pearls of wisdom about the importance of family and community.

After the conclusion of the Bob Hope Enlisted Village residents' time at Tyndall, the widows left with the fond memories of when their family served still in their hearts, as well as a fresh perspective of what is going on in the world's greatest Air Force today.