Recently Blue Yonder and the members of the James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, IL, cut the ribbon for the 2 new Green Homes.  Each home houses 10 veterans, and each veteran is able to live his life as he or she would like with their own room and bathroom, and the ability to enjoy activities and meals on their own time.  Blue Yonder is very proud to be the SDVOSB construction firm who built these homes.  The highlight of the morning was being able to hear former NASA Astronaut and retired Navy Captain James A. Lovell share a few words of wisdom.  We look forward to participating in the next phase and being able to create opportunities for veterans to have a safe and comfortable living space to call their own.

(All pictures are credited to the Lovell FHCC Communications office)

Blue Yonder recently participated in the ‘groundbreaking’ceremony for our newest project at the James A. Lovell FHCC in North Chicago, Il.  The $7.389M interior and exterior renovation project will bring top of the line training capabilities to the personnel stationed at the FHCC, and will prepare the medical corps going all over the world to provide their fellow servicemen and women with potentially life-saving healthcare.  Follow the blog for future updates.

On October 21, 2011 Blue Yonder Inc and the Danville VA Hospital cut the ribbon for the first of 2 Green Homes being built on the hospital campus.  This is a historic event as Danville is the first VA in the country to build such a project, and also the first of anyone in Illinois to build a Green Home. Blue Yonder is very proud to be the SDVOSB construction firm building these homes.  Among the speakers at the dedication were Michael Hamilton, director of the Danville VA, John Shimkus, US Congressman, and Blue Yonder Inc’s president Seth Malley.  We look forward to participating in the next phase and being able to create opportunities for veterans to have a safe and comfortable living space to call their own.

Local Media Coverage:

Commercial News

Channel 15 (ABC) News in Champaign, Illinois (If not a direct link, follow link and the go to “Danville VA Opens Nations First Green House” and click on video)

Commercial News

(excerpt taken from the Buy Veteran website)

The message is simple: “Hey America”, you trust veterans and want to thank them for bravely serving our country? Then support the 3 million American businesses owned by military veterans. Buy Veteran.”  A recent nationwide poll revealed that 95 percent of American consumers feel a sense of gratitude toward veterans and two-thirds said they’d be more likely to buy from veteran-owned businesses. Americans trust veterans who trained under a strong code of ethics.

The American people want to “thank” veterans, not “donate” to them. Big difference.  Eat at a veteran-owned restaurant. Let a veteran-owned contractor remodel your house. Hire a veteran-owned tax preparer or lawyer. Drop off your laundry at a veteran-owned drycleaner. It’s good business. And it’s good for our economy.

Buy American. Buy Local. Now Buy Veteran.

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Blue Yonder Inc is a proud supporter of Buy Veteran (www.buyveteran.com) and the National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA).  Please visit their site to find a local veteran company.

On 13 October 2010, Blue Yonder broke ground for the Green Houses Project at the Danville VA Hospital in Danville, Il.  The project is the first of it’s kind in the State of Illinois, and also the first of it’s kind on a VA installation in the country.  Blue Yonder joined VA officials and local politicians to commemorate the historic event.

Please read the following local news releases for more information:
The News Gazette
Commercial NewsVermilion County First

Video of the event:

Wand TV

WICD TV

WCIA TV

Information about the Green House project.  For the whole story, please visit their official website:

“THE GREEN HOUSE® model creates small, intentional communities for groups of elders and staff to focus on living full and vibrant lives. The model is a radical departure from traditional nursing homes and assisted living facilities – altering facility size, interior design, staffing patterns, and methods of delivering skilled professional services.

Each Green House home is unique, but all are intimate spaces, with warm interior designs and staff that help elders live better and with more independence. In a Green House home, elders receive a high level of personalized and professional medical care and support with daily living, without feeling that their lives are being disrupted or overtaken.”