First three new homes open in base housing

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tim Bazar
  • 314th Airlift Wing Strategic Information Flight
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Airmen and their families got a taste of what life will be like on Little Rock Air Force Base Wednesday when the first three of 107 new homes American Eagle Communities is building here.

Brig. Gen. Kip Self, 314th Airlift Wing commander, his wife, Sue and Howard Lazarus, American Eagle director of operations, joined the family of the first residents in 1958 and the family that will live there now in cutting the ribbon on the properties.

In 1958, Master Sgt. Lewis and Maybelle McClellan and their four children moved into 100 Minnesota Circle. Mrs. McClellan, who currently lives in Louisiana, reflected on the house during her visit to the base Wednesday.

"I remember everything in the house was new and state-of-the-art," said Mrs. McClellan. "It was exciting to be the first people to move into base housing."

"It was very nice of Tom (Brockway, American Eagle Communities project director) and his associates to invite us back to the opening of the new homes," said Gail McClellan Noe, who was in second grade when the family moved in. "We're happy to be a part of it."

Sergeant McClellan began his career in the Army Air Corps, was a pharmacist when the family moved into housing and retired as a senior master sergeant more than 10 years later. He served more than 30 years in the armed services.

In contrast, the new family is just starting out in the Air Force.

Senior Airman Matthew Garrett, assigned to the 314th Maintenance Operations Squadron and currently deployed in support of the Global War on Terror, his wife, Marissa, two children Lilly, 3, and Austin, 2, will occupy the new house at 100 Minnesota. They join two others in receiving new homes - Tech. Sgt. Cassandra and Staff Sgt. Lance Beaver, their children, Kyla, 2, and Michael, 11, and their mother, Colleen Begaye; and Staff Sgt. Mark and Jennifer Brown, and their children Dominic, 10, Christian, 7 and Carson, 1.

"It's really exciting to be one of the first people to start the new community," said Sergeant Brown. "My wife and kids are really excited and they can't wait for new families to move in so they have more children to play with."

Bringing a community together like this is a total partnership between the Arkansas community and Little Rock AFB, said General Self.

"This has been a total effort on everyone's part from the Arkansas contractors to the Airmen on base," said General Self. "The chief of staff has stressed the importance of improving the quality of life for our Airmen and this is a huge step in the right direction. This is a major milestone for our Airmen and Little Rock Air Force Base."