September 7, 2005

Contact: Jeff Schrade (202) 224-9093

(Washington, DC) U.S. Senator Larry Craig, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, will visit the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, DC, tomorrow, Thursday, September 8, at 11:00 a.m. The media is invited to attend. The facility is located at 3700 North Capitol St. NW.

MEDIA NEED TO CONTACT EITHER SHEILA MOTLEY AT 202-730-3556 OR SHEILA ABARR AT 202-730-3043 FOR ACCESS TO THE FACILITY.

Approximately 325 veterans were moved from the Gulfport, Mississippi, Armed Services Retirement Home, to its sister facility in the nation's capitol. The Gulfport facility is now considered a total loss.

"I am going to visit with these veterans to make sure that they are well taken care of and see what needs they have, both short term and long term," Craig said.

Armed Services Retirement Home officials have already established a needs list for the influx of new residents, which include:

For more information on needs, see: http://www.afrh.gov/DWP/afrh/afrhhome.htm

There have traditionally been two Armed Forces Retirement Homes in the United States. The one in Washington, DC, was established in the 1850's and served as a home for presidents, including Abraham Lincoln. The other was originally established as the Philadelphia Naval Home in 1812, but was later moved to Gulfport, Mississippi. The two facilities operate as an independent government agency which draws its budget from a trust fund that is financed through a 50 cent per month deduction from every service member's paycheck.

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