Bird's Eye View: Housing Town Hall meets

  • Published
  • By Col. Bryan J. Gallagher
  • 95th Air Base Wing commander
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The plan to move people out of the Palo Verde Heights and Pacific Winds housing areas will be the topic of conversation during today's Housing Town Hall meeting.

When the rejuvenation of Edwards's housing began in 1997, we knew that eventually Pacific Winds and Palo Verde would be phased in. During the intervening 10 years, a lot of changes have occurred - changes in the number of homes to be built, changes in the population of Edwards and even changes in the types of homes we would build. However, one thing has not changed -- our commitment to providing quality housing and attractive communities. 

The homes in these areas are nearly 50 years old and will be replaced with modern homes with the amenities you would expect -- central air conditioning, two car garages, and convenient floor plans. To get there will require some moving and relocations. We will do our level best to minimize inconvenience and turmoil as we go through these next few years while keeping focused on the goal of completing this effort by 2010.

I look forward to seeing you at today's town hall meeting. It will be held today at the Conference Center's Galaxy Room and will begin at 11 a.m. I encourage you and your families to come and learn more about the move plan.

Public tours going strong 

It's been two years since we reopened Edwards to the public through our public tour program. I'm happy to report that the public tour program has been a resounding success. 

Since the first tour on June 17, 2005, we've welcomed more than 1,500 guests to the base from more than 40 countries around the globe. 

The second largest Air Force base with myriad historical milestones, Edwards is a tour destination many tourists and aviation enthusiasts would like to visit. However, after the tragic Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on our soil, we were not able to offer the general public the same type of tours we previously had. 

With the public tour program, we have the capability to proudly show to those interested that we are the path to success for delivering war-winning capabilities. The taxpayers are able to revisit history, observe the present and witness the future of aerospace as it unfolds. 

If you have family or friends coming to visit over the summer, why not sign up for the tour? It includes a flightline tour, a myriad of historical information, a visit to the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum and a tour of the facility run by our friends at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. 

Tours are generally offered on the first and third Fridays of each month. To sign up, call the community relations division of the Public Affairs office at 277-3517.