Air Force Enlisted Village helps all service widows

  • Published
  • By Jodi L. Jordan
  • Air Force Enlisted Village
SHALIMAR, Fla. (AFPN) --  When you're on active duty, it's easy to see the differences between the armed services and friendly competition between the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard is expected.

In the opinion of some widows of servicemen, the similarities of military life outweigh the differences between the services. Nowhere is that more apparent than at the Air Force Enlisted Village, where widows from all five services live together.

"We are proud that we can provide a safe, secure place for all servicemembers' widows," said Jim Binnicker, AFEV president and CEO. "We just don't let them fly their Marine Corps or Army flags," he said with a smile.

Although there are other organizations that cater to the widows of commissioned officers, the AFEV is unique in its mission to support the enlisted corps. The AFEV's 80-acre campus near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., features independent and assisted living apartments.

Janet Mosier, an AFEV resident who was a Navy wife until her husband passed away in 1992, has lived at the AFEV since 2005. She said moving to the AFEV meant comfort and security to her.

"I thank the Lord, the Air Force Enlisted Village and faithful supporters for providing so much care, love and protection to military widows," Mosier said. "It is a little bit of heaven for me."

The AFEV is one of the four official charities of the Air Force. Donations from Air Force Airmen subsidize the Air Force widows who might need financial assistance. However, the AFEV accepts widows from all five services, although other service widows aren't eligible to receive assistance from the subsidy fund. For more information on the AFEV, call 1-800-651-9858 or visit the Web site at www.afenlistedwidows.org.

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