Ground broken on second Fisher House

by Jim Spellman
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

11/15/2013 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- More than 200 invited guests, Solano County dignitaries, Travis base leadership, news media, radio personalities and friends of the Travis Fisher House gathered Wednesday to witness history repeat itself.

For the second time in two decades, ceremonial shovels dug into the ground to mark the breaking of new construction for a second, larger Fisher House.

The new 16,000 square foot project is being built next to the Department of Veterans Affairs Fairfield outpatient clinic, located on the campus of David Grant USAF Medical Center and directly across from the original Travis Fisher House. Once completed in summer 2014, the new Travis Fisher House II will feature 16 fully furnished bedrooms, each with a private bath. It will be double the size of Fisher House I, which will remain in operation.

In-room telephones, cable television, DVD and wireless internet connections, a communal dining area with a well-stocked kitchen, laundry facilities, spacious living and family rooms and an elevator rounds out the new home-away-from-home for families of active and retired military and veterans undergoing treatment at DGMC and the VA Fairfield OPC.

"From a tactical, as well as a strategic viewpoint, it's important for Travis to have a second Fisher House," said Col. Corey Martin, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander in his remarks to the assembled audience of local supporters.

When the late New York real estate entrepreneur, industrialist and philanthropist Zachary Fisher dedicated Travis Fisher House I in January 1994, little did he know what would transpire two decades later.

"I knew how important the houses would be," he wrote in a note at the time, "But I never imagined how many lives would be changed."

Along with his wife, Elizabeth, Mr. Fisher established the Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Armed Services Foundation, to provide financial assistance to members of the armed forces and their dependents.

In 1990, the Fishers devoted their Foundation's resources to the construction and donation of the first of 18 "homes of comfort" for military and veteran families to be close to a loved one during hospitalization for a serious illness, disease or injury. The Fisher Houses are located on the grounds of various military and veterans hospitals throughout the United States and Germany today.

Travis Fisher House I was the second California-based house in what has now grown into a series of 62 houses built or under construction by the National Fisher House Foundation.

Located within a short walking distance of DGMC and the VA Fairfield OPC, the original 5,000 square foot house features two single bedrooms, three double rooms, and two double room suites, a large common room, dining room, fully-stocked kitchen, laundry room, administrative office, an outdoor park and children's playground. It accommodates up to seven families or 16 people at a time with the comfort and atmosphere of a home and comfortable retreat for patient's families.

Daily meals are routinely donated by squadrons on a rotating basis. The Combined Federal Campaign, Volunteer appreciation awards, annual golf tournament, Easter egg hunt, Christmas tree auction and Viking Challenge run are just some of the regular activities to benefit the house.

More than 3,500 guests have been served by Travis Fisher House I at no expense to them during their stay. The house has been 100 percent occupied for more than four years with an average waiting list of six weeks. With base closures throughout California and across the nation, Travis, DGMC and Travis Fisher House I have become essential to the health and well being of military and veteran families.

"It is the National Fisher House Foundation's intention to be able to keep service families together during periods of medical emergencies or crisis when they need the support and comfort of their family the most," said retired Air Force General Michael P.C. Carns, featured guest speaker at the groundbreaking ceremony. "This is important work."

Carns, the 25th vice chief of staff of the Air Force from 1991 to 1994 played a pivotal role in beginning the very unique and successful private-public partnership between the Department of Defense and the National Fisher House Foundation.

Although more than $3.5 million in private funding has been raised to build the new home, Travis Fisher House II is still $1.5 million short of its goal.

If you would like to make a contribution or for more information, call Charlene Hall, Travis Fisher House manager at 423-7550 or e-mail charlene.hall.1@us.af.mil.