"Roving ambassadors" visit Travis Fisher House

  • Published
  • By Jim Spellman
  • 60th MEDICAL GROUP
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Audrey Fisher and Nancy Edelman, vice chairs of the Fisher House Foundation board of trustees and "roving ambassadors," accompanied by Jim Weiskopf, FHF vice president, arrived Wednesday for a whirlwind, four-hour visit to Travis Fisher House and David Grant USAF Medical Center. The biennial visit was part of a five-day tour of five Fisher Houses located in Washington and California.

Colonel James Jacobsen, 60th Air Mobility Wing vice commander, Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Fischer, 60th AMW command chief, Col. (Dr.) John T. Mansfield, 60th Medical Group deputy commander, and Chief Master Sergeant Larry Blake, 60th MDG group superintendent, welcomed the distinguished visitors upon arrival at the Travis flightline. Travis Fisher House served as the setting for a luncheon and awards presentation to staff, volunteers and guests.

"We come for just one reason, and that is to say 'Thank you'," said Mr. Weiskopf. "Thank you is to the managers, to the medical center that support the houses, to the volunteers and thank you to the guests and their families," Mr. Weiskopf explained. "Because what you all have in common is you wouldn't be using the facilities at David Grant if you didn't have some association with the military, be it active duty, guard, reserve or being a veteran. Each one of you have served, so we thank you for your service."

"We've got an amazing hospital here, doing great things," Colonel Jacobsen told the Fisher House ambassadors. "So we appreciate everything that your team does from right here to up at your headquarters. You have perfect examples here today, and I know you see it everywhere you travel, but this is a pretty big place doing great things and we appreciate your help."

The Fisher House program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America's military in their time of need. The program recognizes the special sacrifices of our men and women in uniform and the hardships of military service by meeting a humanitarian need beyond that normally provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

Local Fisher Houses serve as a "home away from home" for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. They are the creation of the late Zachary Fisher, a Russian immigrant and a prominent figure in the New York real estate community with a lifelong interest in the U.S. military.

"Without the American public's help and support we wouldn't be able to go forth as fast as we are right now in building those new houses that are needed today," Mrs. Fisher said. "So we feel very blessed that our program has the tremendous respect of the American people and for the most part has been unsolicited on our part."

Since its early beginnings in 1990, Fisher Houses have offered more than three million days of lodging serving more than 120,000 families. There are currently 47 Fisher Houses located on 18 military installations and 15 VA medical centers. Twelve more houses are under construction or in development.

Located on the five acre campus and within short walking distance of DGMC, Travis Fisher House is a 5,000 square foot facility with the comfort and atmosphere of a home. It features two single bedrooms, three double rooms and two double room suites, a large common room, dining room, fully stocked kitchen, laundry and office. It accommodates up to seven families or 16 people at a time, providing a comfortable retreat for patient's families.

Major Ann Alexander, a 60th Dental Squadron orthodontist who serves as volunteer executive director of Travis Fisher House, explained that 161 new families have been served here during the past year. "We have operated at 100 percent capacity, with a waiting list for individuals to stay here almost every night of each month," said Maj. Alexander. "So the word is out. People are very excited and happy to be here and the demand is surging."

"These houses would not be able to maintain or survive without the wonderful volunteers that show up every day with love in their hearts," said Mrs. Edelman. "It is so gratifying to see. We are so happy and blessed to be here and to see all the wonderful work that's being done in this house as well as at the medical center."

"We have the best job in the world; to take care of men and women who raised their hands to defend us and our way of life, and we can't do it without the wonderful help of the Fisher House" said Colonel Mansfield. "As a physician, I have come to recognize many years ago that there's more to medicine and healing than what happens in the big white building," Colonel Mansfield explained as he pointed in the direction of DGMC across the street.

"This house would not exist without all the volunteers. It's a team (effort) that we understand works well here at Travis. Healing occurs here in this house."