About Us

Vision

We imagine a world where every enlisted veteran has a vibrant community to call home.

Mission

To foster a more vibrant community for the residents of The Old Soldiers Home through advocacy and engagement.

value

Values

We are building a foundation that inspires veterans, that is inclusive and committed, develops practical and pragmatic solutions, and as is a careful steward of resources.

Founding Story

The Old Soldiers Home Foundation was founded in 2018 as a 501(c)3 by residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in order to raise funds and improve the Quality of Life for residents at both the AFRH-Gulfport and AFRH-Washington DC.

The Armed Forces Retirement Home has a rich history dating back to 1834 as a retirement home for distinguished Navy veterans and back to 1851 for Army veterans. Today the home is dedicated to serving enlisted veterans (Retired/Combat/Disability) from all services and provides 5 levels of continuous care.

The Old Soldiers Home Foundation was created to complement the work of the Armed Forces Retirement Home to fulfill our Nation’s commitment to our veterans.

David Pauling, Founder and President Emeritus

David Pauling was a resident at The Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington D.C. He started the Old Soldiers Home Foundation because he saw the need for private philanthropy to ensure the long-term security of the Retirement Home and potentially to expand its model to new campuses around the country.  David served in the Marine Corps during WWII and through the end of the Korean War. Subsequently he accumulated 50 years in multiple commercial roles, from hands-on labor through chief executive officer, and owner of several manufacturing and construction corporations. He then volunteered nearly 4 years as an Americorps VISTA, 2 years helping to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina, and two more fighting poverty in Iowa and California. In David’s words, “The Old Soldiers Home Foundation is my way of giving back…assuring your tax-deductible donations will always be used to maintain AFRH’s infrastructure so our past present and future veterans will always have a safe environment in which to live, thrive and age in place.”  David passed away on February 23, 2021.

Learn more about our Founder and friend David P. Pauling

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The Need

The Armed Forces Retirement Home is an independent executive branch agency created by congress in 1991 and merged the U.S. Soldiers and Airmen’s Home in Washington DC with the U.S. Naval Home in Gulfport, MS. AFRH is self-funded through dedicated revenue streams to a U.S. Treasury trust fund rather than taxpayer appropriations. Some of the revenue sources include monthly deduction from active enlisted service members’ pay and allowances and the collection of service member fines and forfeitures.

Over the years the trust fund has reached critical levels causing infrastructure improvements and maintenance to be delayed. The Old Soldiers Home Foundation seeks to provide a means to address funding requirements to improve the Quality of Life of our resident veterans and create a more vibrant community.

HELP OUR RESIDENTS

DONATE

Your generous donation will go a long way to support our heroes who call the Armed Forces Retirement Home, home.

CFC#73370

“If there is anyone who deserves to have his pathway made smooth and pleasant, it is the old soldier who was ever ready to sacrifice his life in defense of his country.”

General Winfield Scott at the Founding of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in 1851

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