Fisher House ambassadors visit Travis

  • Published
  • By Jim Spellman
  • 60th Medical Group
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The Fisher House Foundation's "roving ambassadors" returned to the base Oct. 11 for a visit with the staff, volunteers and guests of the Travis Fisher House.

Audrey Fisher and Nancy Edelman, FHF ambassadors, and Jim Weiskopf, FHF vice president for communications, were greeted by Col. Jim Baron, 60th Operations Group commander, Deb Arquiette, wife of Col. Steve Arquiette, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander, Col. (Dr.) Ken McDonnell, 60th Medical Group deputy commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Robert Hernandez, 60th MDG group superintendent.

During their visit, Mrs. Fisher, Mrs. Edelman and Mr. Weiskopf highlighted future plans for additional Fisher Houses to be built across the nation as a result of the continuing Global War on Terror and underscored a key program where the Fisher House is directly involved with the military community.

"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, right away, immediately," 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." 

Created by Zachary Fisher, the Travis Fisher House is one 38 Fisher Houses across the country and is a "home away from home" for families of patients receiving medical care at the David Grant USAF Medical Center. Since there is no charge for families to stay at the Fisher House, the Fisher House Foundation uses donations to reimburse the individual Fisher Houses.

"This really is a community endeavor for the entire wing and the surrounding area as well as the squadrons who bring their 'Gift of a Meal from the Heart' for the guests every night," Colonel Baron said.

"I really want to underscore something that was said here today; certainly the Travis Fisher House is magnificent, but it's the human element that is the most impressive thing about the program," said Dr. McDonnell.