OSI agents pay a special visit to military veterans at the Armed Forces Retirement Home

  • Published
  • By Special Agent Angelina Montecalvo
  • AFOSI Headquarters
MCB QUANTICO, Va. --  Air Force Office of Special Investigations members hosted a Hero's Tree visit to the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C. Dec. 21.

In preparation for this visit, OSI sponsored a veterans angel tree program in the National Capital Region, collecting more than 100 gifts for the residents of the AFRH. The gifts were presented at the Hero's Tree dedication. OSI members from AFOSI Headquarters, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., and from all around the NCR joined the residents for lunch and shared some quality time together in celebration of the holiday season.

The Hero's Tree program recognizes families whose loved ones are currently serving, Veterans, or deceased U.S. service members. This program, while suited to the holiday season, is also ideal for Veterans Day and Memorial Day, or as a farewell for deploying servicemen and women.

During the Hero's Tree dedication Chief Master Sgt. Michael Tanguay, HQ AFOSI enlisted career field manager, spoke to the residents on behalf of OSI.

"We are very honored and humbled to share this day with those whose footsteps we followed in the service of the world's greatest country," Chief Tanguay said. "Many of you began serving in the late 1930's and early 1940's when the U.S. military was a hollow shell of what it is today.

"You defeated fascism, stared down the spread of communism in Korea, Vietnam, Europe and even here in the western hemisphere - not only through the efforts of the 16.1 million men and women who served in World War II but also through the efforts of those at home."

The HQ AFOSI Top 3 group organizes the veterans angel tree program. The group was created by and consists of senior non-commissioned officers from the NCR to promote morale and esprit de corps, enhance communications within the NCO ranks and improve the lives of all enlisted members within the Joint Base Andrews, Md., and Quantico communities.

Chief Tanguay thanked the veterans for paving the way for future generations of military members.

"You built the greatest land, air and sea forces the world has ever known and we are honored to follow in your footsteps," he said. "If today's Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors are half as proud of us as we are of you, we'll feel that we've continued your tremendous traditions. Thank you for your incredible service to our country and we hope you enjoy these small tokens of our appreciation."

According to the AFRH Web site, the home was previously known as the Soldiers Home and was created by an act of U.S. Congress in 1851. Its purpose was to provide a place of retirement for U.S. servicemen. The project came to fruition largely due to the efforts of Maj. Robert Anderson, President Jefferson Davis, and Gen. Winfield Scott. They wanted to provide a secure and honorable place for retirement for homeless and disabled war veterans. The initial outlay for the home was funded through reparations from the Mexican-American War and the site chosen at the time, Washington, D.C., is where the home remains today.

For more information about the AFRH, visit www.AFRH.gov.