The Air Force Enlisted Village celebrated the groundbreaking of Bob Hope Village 7 on Friday morning, launching construction on 51 new residences that will expand housing for surviving spouses of retired enlisted Air Force members and retired couples.
- The ceremony at 92 Sunset Lane drew county and state officials, residents, and the organization’s board of directors, who assembled to mark the beginning of the newest phase in the nonprofit’s growth.
“It’s a big day today for us. But we’ve had many big days in the past,” said CMSgt Brooke McLean, USAF retired, president and CEO of the Air Force Enlisted Village. He noted the organization held groundbreakings for Village 5 about 12 years ago and Village 6 seven years ago.
The new building will feature two-bedroom, two-bathroom units with dens and will connect to the existing Village 6 community spaces. Lord and Son Construction will serve as the project’s contractor, with completion expected in less than 16 months.
CMSgt Todd Simmons, USAF retired and chairman of the board of directors, emphasized what makes the village unique among retirement communities.
- “The difference between the Village and the thousands of other places you could have chosen is the soul of this place,” Simmons said. “When you enter the gates, you are not in an assisted living or retirement home, you are in a place that is family.”
Okaloosa County Commissioner Drew Palmer highlighted the facility’s economic impact, noting it employs 120 people. He also pointed out that Okaloosa County is home to 37,000 veterans.
“This is a commitment to those who served,” Palmer said. “It’s not just an expansion of the facilities…it’s a fulfillment of that commitment to the community.”
State Rep. Patt Maney, who represents District 4, has worked to support the AFEV over the years. He helped secure several hundred thousand dollars in state funding for Village 5 roofing and last year worked with McLean to obtain $2 million to help acquire land across the street for a potential fire and rescue station to improve emergency response times for village residents.
- “I am so proud and pleased to have you all as neighbors,” Maney said. “I look forward to continuing to work to make Air Force Enlisted Village the resource for the whole United States veteran community. This is a great place to be.”
Founded in 1968, the Air Force Enlisted Village is home to nearly 600 residents across Bob Hope Village and Hawthorn House, its assisted living facility. The organization will celebrate Hawthorn House’s 20th anniversary on Nov. 7.
McLean thanked the construction team, including Spike Lord of Lord and Son Construction and Sal Nodjomian of Matrix Design Group, as well as financial partner Ziegler and their architect firm.
The ceremony included the national anthem performed by SMSgt Bob Izzo, USAF retired, an invocation by Chaplain Bethel Bateson, a blessing of the ground by Father Nelson Toledo, and a ceremonial turning of the soil.
McLean reflected on the organization’s legacy and the work ahead.
“Our organization has a history of caring and benevolence,” he said. “The people that are working here today are carrying on a legacy and we’re standing on the shoulders of the people that went before us, the incredible leaders and the visionaries that saw what Bob Hope Village could be.”
