Armed Forces Retirement Home
Encyclopedia
The Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH), formerly the U.S. Soldiers' and Airmen's Home, the U.S. Soldiers' Home, and the U.S. Military Asylum, is an independent establishment in the executive branch of the federal government of the United States
. It now operates two retirement home
s for American military veterans — the historic Soldiers' Home in northeast Washington, D.C.
and a home in Gulfport, Mississippi
, just west of Keesler Air Force Base
.
and United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery
(the forerunner of Arlington National Cemetery
).
, (at that time Secretary of War), and General Winfield Scott
. These three men wanted to provide a secure and honorable place for retirement for homeless and disabled war veterans. All Service members (excluding officers) currently have 50 Cents deducted from their respective monthly pay to help fund the AFRH
Built initially in 1843 by the banker George Washington Riggs
as a summer cottage for his family, it was a part of the first parcel acquired by the U.S. Military Asylum. Renamed Anderson Cottage for co-founder Major Robert Anderson
it housed the first residents of the home. It is now known as President Lincoln's Cottage. The brick house has a stucco exterior.
Begun in 1852 and completed in the 1890s, Scott Building is named for General Winfield Scott
. The initial design for the building was in the Norman Gothic style. It housed 100-200 residents. Its castellated clock tower was used as a watch tower during the American Civil War
, especially during General Jubal Early
's raid on nearby Fort Stevens
.
Built by Barton S. Alexander
, the Sherman Building is connected to the Scott Building by a central annex. Its exterior is unfinished white marble.
Built in 1897, this was a recreation center and is now the Home's Chapel.
This building, begun in 1883, was built as a dormitory. It has three stories and is built of red brick.
Begun in 1911, the Grant Building was built as a barracks, mess hall, and recreation center.
forced the closure of their home in August 2005. In September 2007, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced the award to Yates Construction of Biloxi, Mississippi of a design-build
contract to replace the damaged 13-story building. The contract was for $189 million dollars, with most of the funding being appropriated by Public Law 109-234.
The damaged building was demolished in October 2007. A new building was built and re-opened on October 4, 2010.
The new facility features private, air-conditioned single rooms, bowling alley, swimming pool, balconies and a walkway overpass that crosses US Highway 90 onto the Beach. Average room size is approximately 450 square feet (41.8 m²) of living space plus a bathroom, shower and closet. The AFRH provides each resident with a bed, night stand, armoire, dining table with chairs, love seat, and lounge chair. Personal furnishings such as computers, computer desk and microwaves are allowed.
Each room is wired for cable and telephone, which if desired, must be paid for by the resident.
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
. It now operates two retirement home
Retirement home
A retirement home is a multi-residence housing facility intended for senior citizens. Typically each person or couple in the home has an apartment-style room or suite of rooms. Additional facilities are provided within the building, including facilities for meals, gathering, recreation, and some...
s for American military veterans — the historic Soldiers' Home in northeast Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and a home in Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi after the state capital Jackson. It is the larger of the two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. As of the...
, just west of Keesler Air Force Base
Keesler Air Force Base
Keesler Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Biloxi, a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States. The base is named in honor of aviator 2d Lt Samuel Reeves Keesler, Jr., a Mississippi native killed in France in First World War.-Units:The base is home of...
.
The U.S. Soldiers' and Airmen's Home
The Soldiers' Home occupies a campus in N.W. Washington, D.C.. It sits adjacent to two historic cemeteries, Rock Creek CemeteryRock Creek Cemetery
Rock Creek Cemetery — also Rock Creek Church Yard and Cemetery — is an cemetery with a natural rolling landscape located at Rock Creek Church Road, NW, and Webster Street, NW, off Hawaii Avenue, NE in Washington, D.C.'s Michigan Park neighborhood, near Washington's Petworth neighborhood...
and United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery
United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery
United States Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery, in Washington, D.C., is located next to the Armed Forces Retirement Home. It is one of only two national cemeteries administered by the Department of the Army—the other being Arlington National Cemetery...
(the forerunner of Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
).
History
The Soldiers Home was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1851 following the Mexican-American War. Its purpose was to provide a place of retirement for U.S. servicemen. The project came to fruition largely due to the efforts of Major Robert Anderson, Jefferson DavisJefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
, (at that time Secretary of War), and General Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
. These three men wanted to provide a secure and honorable place for retirement for homeless and disabled war veterans. All Service members (excluding officers) currently have 50 Cents deducted from their respective monthly pay to help fund the AFRH
Notable buildings
The Soldiers' Home has had many interesting historic buildings, some of which survive to the present day:- Anderson Cottage
- Main article: President Lincoln's Cottage
Built initially in 1843 by the banker George Washington Riggs
George Washington Riggs
George Washington Riggs was an American businessman and banker. He was known as "The President's Banker."- Life and work :...
as a summer cottage for his family, it was a part of the first parcel acquired by the U.S. Military Asylum. Renamed Anderson Cottage for co-founder Major Robert Anderson
Major Robert Anderson
Robert Anderson was an American military leader. He served as a Union Army officer in the American Civil War, known for his command of Fort Sumter at the start of the war. He is often referred to as Major Robert Anderson, referring to his rank at Fort Sumter...
it housed the first residents of the home. It is now known as President Lincoln's Cottage. The brick house has a stucco exterior.
- Scott Building
Begun in 1852 and completed in the 1890s, Scott Building is named for General Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
. The initial design for the building was in the Norman Gothic style. It housed 100-200 residents. Its castellated clock tower was used as a watch tower during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, especially during General Jubal Early
Jubal Anderson Early
Jubal Anderson Early was a lawyer and Confederate general in the American Civil War. He served under Stonewall Jackson and then Robert E. Lee for almost the entire war, rising from regimental command to lieutenant general and the command of an infantry corps in the Army of Northern Virginia...
's raid on nearby Fort Stevens
Fort Stevens
Fort Stevens may refer to one of two decommissioned American military forts:*Fort Stevens , a fort in Oregon that guarded the mouth of the Columbia River...
.
- Sherman Building
Built by Barton S. Alexander
Barton S. Alexander
Barton Stone Alexander was an American engineer commander during the American Civil War who rose to the brevet rank of brigadier general in the regular army. He was a graduate of the U.S...
, the Sherman Building is connected to the Scott Building by a central annex. Its exterior is unfinished white marble.
- Stanley Hall
Built in 1897, this was a recreation center and is now the Home's Chapel.
- Sheridan Building
This building, begun in 1883, was built as a dormitory. It has three stories and is built of red brick.
- Grant Building
Begun in 1911, the Grant Building was built as a barracks, mess hall, and recreation center.
The Gulfport campus
The Gulfport campus was severely damaged in 2005, hundreds of veterans that lived at the AFRH-G facility were evacuated and relocated after the destructive winds and storm surge of Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
forced the closure of their home in August 2005. In September 2007, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced the award to Yates Construction of Biloxi, Mississippi of a design-build
Design-Build
Design-build is a project delivery system used in the construction industry. It is a method to deliver a project in which the design and construction services are contracted by a single entity known as the design–builder or design–build contractor...
contract to replace the damaged 13-story building. The contract was for $189 million dollars, with most of the funding being appropriated by Public Law 109-234.
The damaged building was demolished in October 2007. A new building was built and re-opened on October 4, 2010.
The new facility features private, air-conditioned single rooms, bowling alley, swimming pool, balconies and a walkway overpass that crosses US Highway 90 onto the Beach. Average room size is approximately 450 square feet (41.8 m²) of living space plus a bathroom, shower and closet. The AFRH provides each resident with a bed, night stand, armoire, dining table with chairs, love seat, and lounge chair. Personal furnishings such as computers, computer desk and microwaves are allowed.
Each room is wired for cable and telephone, which if desired, must be paid for by the resident.
External links
- AFRH website
- Gulf Coast News Sep 2006 article on the future for the Gulfport MS AFRH http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/GCNnewsAFRHtobeDemolished.htm