European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 15, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A a. A. A. Mam a a a a a resident George Lavesque builds a shelf in the woodworking shop at the Home Ginny Bradford lives and works at the Home. Plans Are to make All rooms private some residents. Have to double up the drawback is the size of the room Quot strives said. Quot i have stereo equipment that barely  a a one resident George l. Lavesque who was an army Auto Mechanic makes shelves for cluttered rooms in the Home s Wood shop. A it keeps me Busy Quot Lavesque said while sanding a piece of Wood recently he charges his customers Only for the Price of the Wood. A residents who Don t work Are encouraged to leave their rooms As often As possible for example mail is delivered Only to the mail room a a huge old fashioned Cavern in one of the dormitories a to Force folks to walk at least that far each Day. A some members get out of their rooms often to take advantage of the free laundry and dry cleaning service shoe repair and Legal Aid. I could t duplicate this on the outside if i was a wealthy Man Quot said Francis l. Woodham a korean War Cit Kuland a resident since 1984 Quot this is a fabulous a. Piece of real estate. Quot a. A a h. A Woodham spends much of his time in the framing shop framing photos and paintings and teaching others the Craft. A Stanley l. Palka who served 22 years the army and 20 years in a Denver sheriff s office has been nurturing a hidden Talent for the five years he s spent at the Home i never was in a Carpenter s shop in my life now i a spend four or five hours a Day in Here Palka said while hammering a tiny Nail into a Birdhouse shaped like a Swiss chalet. A a a a a. Palka s aviary creations include condos a red barn a mexican Adobe and the Monticello copied from a Nickle i give them to my grandsons Quot he said the Homes cafeteria can seat up to 1,400 at a time for three daily meals. A guest House on the grounds encourages visitors. The fees the residents pay cover the a Cost of the meals. A. A a a -. A since the Home is less than three Miles from Capitol Hill buses regularly ferry residents to the smithsonian museums and other Points of interest a but the residents need not go far to find history the Home s still photo Library has copies of photographs kept in the army archives which Date Back to the 1930s the Library has 45,000 volumes including Quot talking Quot books for those with hearing impairments. There is also a video Library. A a. A. -. Quot Quot. A a a. A for the More Active members there is a nine Hole Golf course a gymnasium two stocked fishing lakes and a six Lane Bowling Alley. Quot there s no excuse for a member vegetating in his room Quot one Home official said. A the Home has a Chapel Complete with stained Glass windows and a pipe Organ. Headsets Are available in the pews for those who Are hard of hearing. A a the nearby Walter Reed army medical Center backs up the Homes King health Center in caring for ailing residents construction is going Well on a new Section of the health Center that will add a 200-bed,.long-term care capacity by next Spring. If a resident Dies the installations mortuary and. Funeral Home take care of the final arrangements. Quot you name it you got it Quot Bradford said. Quot the Home is everything i could Ever need or want and i love it  after io8 years of. Existence the  soldiers and airmen s Home will have to weather some big changes s fall when a new Law goes into effect past admission rules allowed military retirees of any age to live at the Home but As of nov. 1, applicants must be at least age go to be eligible new residents also will have to pay More to stay their current Sot fees run 25 percent of each residents military retirement benefits but when the new Law kicks in the fee will include 25 percent of All a social a county and Federal civil service annuities. A Quot. ,.� the changes were signed into Law by president Bush As part of the 1991defense authorization act and will Combine the management of the Home with the naval Home located in. Gulfport miss compared to the Washington Homes current 1,93? residents the naval Home has Only 400 people officials said. A a most residents of the Home Are regular retired enlisted or warrant. Officers when the new Law goes into effect women veterans who were a. You Noteis prior to 1948 will Fie allowed to live in the Home v at present some retirees art1 permitted to. Live in the Home because they Are unable to earn a living due to a service disability and some enter the. Home because Thoy Enn not work due to disability incurred alter retirement a a a however after nov -5 Ifie Quot wartime service Quot requirement will limit eligibility a to Altose who served in a War to Fiedler the new Law will cause far reaching changes in the management of the Quot a Homes. A. A. Overall supervision of both Homes will come under the armed forces retirement Home Board an Independent Federal entity created by Quot. Hie Law. The new Board made up of a chairman and at least 15.other room Bors appointed by the defense Secretary will meet twice a year. A the Board will oversee the Trust funds. For the Homes which come from Active duty pay. Deductions punishment Linos for violations of the . Military code of conduct bequests and interest a income. The soldiers and airmen a Home earned More than $45 million from these sources and user fees during fiscal 1990.local boards will oversee operations at each of the Homes with a chairman and 10 other members appointed by the service Secretary. The current governor will become each Homes director in the fall and will be a non to tag member of the local Board a. The Law came on the heels of a scathing Pentagon inspector general report that found financial errors in the accounting and distribution of funds at both Homes. J h t May 15. 1991. The stars and stripes Page 15