Lancaster veterans home breaks ground with Edwards support

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stacy Sanchez
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
After more than a decade of preparation, the California Department of Veterans Affairs and the Lancaster, Calif., community unveiled their plan for a veterans home during a groundbreaking ceremony June 12. 

As the nearest military installation, Edwards provided support for the event. 

The keynote speaker for the event was Col. David Miller, Air Force Flight Test Center vice commander. The Edwards Blue Eagles Honor Guard provided support as well as Tech. Sgt. David Ah Sing, Airman and Family Readiness Center noncommissioned officer in charge, who sang the national anthem. 

In addition, representatives from various base organizations joined the ceremony including the Air Force Sergeants Association, Airman's Council, Top 3, Junior Force Council, First Sergeants Council and the Chief's Group.

"I felt honored to come out here to participate in this celebration," said Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Pfeffer, Top 3 president. "I am proud of all the organizations that participated in this event."

The Lancaster veterans home will give residential care for the elderly, said Dr. Robert Johnson, California Department of Veterans Affairs construction division director. The home will include 60 beds with a 50-member capacity for the adult day health care.

"This community for many years has been working to secure a veterans home, and this morning we are celebrating the ground breaking," Dr. Johnson said during the ceremony. 

The new health care program for the state and federal government will provide health services and day care services for veterans who would otherwise be in a skilled nursing facility, Dr. Johnson said. 

"This will ensure they stay in the best possible health care facility and gives significant caregiver relief to their loved ones," he said. 

Sergeant Pfeffer said various base organizations are also planning on giving aid to the veterans home.

"We plan on helping the veterans home in any way possible," Sergeant Pfeffer said. "We have been out to Barstow, (Calif.,) to help with the veterans home there, and we plan to do the same in Lancaster. The professional organizations are going to be there whenever they ask us to." 

The veteran's home is scheduled to open in December 2008.