Joseph H. Long, USAF (Ret.)
VISN6 Newsletter
The Coastal Carolina MOAA Chapter for the first time participated as an entrant in the annual River Bend, NC Independence Day Parade on July 4th, 2018. LCDR ET Mitchell, Chapter Legislative Liaison joined Chapter President, Colonel Iggi W. Husar (Ret), in the hour-long parade procession through the Town of River Bend.
* This annual event is sponsored by the New River Chapter of the North Carolina Council of Chapters, MOAA.
* Do you like “pickin’ and a grinnin’”? Supporting our troops and their families? Honoring local veterans? Oohing and Aahing over handmade patriotic quilts?
* You guessed it! The third annual Marathon Jam is just around the corner. Mark your calendars for May 19, noon to midnight in the Ashe County Arts Council building. Come for a while or stay for the duration. Bring your neighbors and friends (I assume they are one and the same!) and if you play an acoustic instrument, plan on sitting in for a spell. If you stay for the entire 12 hours, you will become an “Iron Picker”, a much revered title in the Marathon Jam world.
* While pickin’ and grinnin’we will be raising awareness and money for military families by supporting the Fisher Houses at Camp Lejeune and Fort Bragg. As you know, Fisher Houses provide a temporary home, free of charge, for families of wounded service men and women so families can be with their loved ones during treatment, convalescence and rehabilitation.
* How is the money earned? Each musician reaches out to friends, family, neighbors and associates for sponsorship – just like a fun run. The only difference is that the musicians are strumming, not running. Admission for listeners is free of charge.”
* There are a few surprises in store for this year’s Jam. Plan on being part of the fun while further serving those who serve in our great military.
* The Traveling Memorial stands as a reminder of the great sacrifices made during the Vietnam War. During the upcoming Memorial Day weekend 2017. The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall® will provide a venue that allows Vietnam War veterans, families, and local residents the ability to see the memorial, attain closure, and learn about the Vietnam War.
* The Otway Burns Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), with presenting sponsor Big Rock Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament, is hosting the memorial at Glad Tidings Church (4621 Country Club Road, Morehead City, NC) Friday, May 26th until Tuesday, May 30th.
* At approximately 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 25th, the memorial and a motorcycle escort will leave the New River Shopping Center in Jacksonville and proceed east on Highway 24. In Morehead City, the escort and memorial will proceed across Highway 70 onto Bridges Street, then turn left on Country Club Road, and enter the Glad Tidings Church property.
* Groups and individual bikers interested in escorting the Wall should contact Cindy Knigge (cdmidgette@aol.com).
* Round-the-clock viewing of the memorial will commence following the opening ceremony scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, May 26th until 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 30th when the brief closing ceremony will be begin.
* Chapter Regent Linda Phelps says the Otway Burns Chapter is sponsoring the monument in Morehead City, which has a large veteran population, for healing and to allow people the opportunity to visit who otherwise may not be able to make the trip to Washington, D.C.
* For more information, find the event on Facebook “Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall Morehead City” or contact Otway Burns Chapter NSDAR Regent Linda Phelps (910- 326-6164 or rphelps@ec.rr.com).
* Tax deductible donations can be made to the Otway Burns Chapter Treasurer and mailed to Dolores Witt, 312 Bonita Road, Cape Carteret, NC 28584.
* High Country MOAA Chapter President Captain Fred Schmitt, USCG, Ret., shared this message via the NCCOC website:
- "The HCCMOAA extends an invitation to the Council of Chapters to attend the 10th annual Veterans Day Ceremony at 1100, November 11, at the Boone Mall, Boone, NC."
* Sandhills Chapter President Polly Flippo shared information from the 3rd Quarterly Meeting that was held in Blowing Rock, NC about an important program that supports veterans from the Veteran Patriots Action Conference.
* Vets In The Fight is providing a robust "Get Out The Vote" educational program led by some of the nation's foremost experts on campaign strategy at the local, county, state, and federal levels at Owens Auditorium, Sandhills Community College.
* The purpose of this conference is to educate and engage veterans in the current presidential election by providing a forum for speakers to address veterans' and national security issues. Several well known speakers have already committed and both presidential candidates have been invited to attend or send a representative from their campaign to speak at the event.
* The conference is $65 for both days and includes a box lunch.
* VPAC is asking veteran organizations to help publicize the event and encourage attendance. If so inclined, there are also opportunities to sponsor a wounded veteran to attend and to become an event sponsor.
* Co-Leaders of the Sanford Satellite of the Sandhills Chapter attended the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Sanford Community-Based Outpatient Clinic on 29 June 2016. Celebrating this event were many dignitaries and community leaders and members. This CBOC provides Primary Care, Mental Health and Telehealth Services.
* Pictured upper right (L to r): COL (Ret) Jeri Graham, Immediate Past President NCCOC and Sanford Satellite Co-Leader; Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (R-NC, 2nd District) Keynote Speaker; Elizabeth Goolsby, USA (Ret) Director, Fayetteville VA Medical Center and Daniel F. Hoffman, FACHE, Director, VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network VISN 6.
* Pictured lower right at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony are VA and Sanford dignitaries as well as Mr. Waddell, Special CBOC Veteran (front center), soon to celebrate his 102nd birthday.
* Started 30 years ago to honor North Carolina's fallen heroes, the Thomasville Memorial Parade and Ceremony is a day long event to reflect on their service and honor their memory.
* Open the below downloadable files to see information on scheduled events and learn how to participate in this annual celebration...
A Military Appreciation Dinner, a tribute to veterans, is being hosted by the Carolina Trace Country Club in Sanford, NC. Open the downloadable files below to learn more about the event.
Veterans! Check out the below, downloadable WRAL 2016 Balloon Fest flyer about the many exciting and entertaining events at the annual Fuquay-Varina, NC event that includes many veteran related activities.
Open the below, downloadable file to learn about the 2015 SECOME Symposium, a project of the North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and
Substance Abuse Services.
Link: Governor's Working Group on Veterans, Service Members and Their Families
* Next month, the Pinehurst VGA Golf Championship will be held at Pinehurst, NC.
* American heroes, including 17 Purple Heart recipients, 6 amputees, and over 109 years of combat deployment service won't arrive in tanks or Humvees, but in golf carts, to compete for our nation's first national golf championship for military Veterans.
* Everyone is invited to join in at the 2015 VGA Championship over Veterans Day week.
* The NC4Vets events listing resource page is a way NCCOC Council and Chapters can list upcoming events.
* Open the resource and follow the instructions to submit activities for veterans in your area.
* This is a post of an e-mail that was received by COL Jeri Graham, NCCOC President from LtCol David Brown, USMC, Ret. which read, "I need everyone’s help here. Please give your attention to an opportunity to support a fund raiser for the Museum of the Marine in Raleigh, NC on August 18th."
* In support of the effort, please forward this to any potential donor or friend who may know a potential donor. Or, tell them to link and see our fantastic video on our home page of our website..
* To contact LtCol David B. Brown:
- Museum of the Marine
- 919-649-5279
- www.museumofthemarine.org
* Representatives of the North Carolina Council of Chapters attended the Command Performance Breakfast as part of the Military Affairs Council, Fayetteville Regional Chamber on this date are pictured to the right.
* Click on the photograph to open and read the names of the delegation.
(Other attendees not pictured included Meg Segal and COL Ed Baisden)
* The North Carolina Council of MOAA attended Legislative Day to represent all NC veterans in spreading the word regarding issues important to our Chapters, our Council and veterans of our state before the NC legislature.
* The photographs to the right, as well as those in the thumbnails, are from the day long event in Raleigh, NC.
Pictured above are members of the Color Guard that presented the colors to open the ceremony.
Pictured below are COL Harley Ellinger, USA DC, Ret., the NC Council 3rd Vice President and Legislative Chair, and COL Jeri Graham, USA NC, Ret., NC Council of Chapters President.
Scroll over the thumbnail pictures to see more photographs of MOAA members and legislators gathered during the day: COL Ed Baisden, USA, Ret. and COL Ellinger are seen during a break.
Also shown is the NC House Chamber where the final event of the day was held as veterans were honored before a legislative session.
COL-Ret. Jeri Graham, USA, Council President manned a recruiting table for MOAA at the first NC Women Veteran's Summit and Expo, April 17, 2014 at Joint Force Headquarters, Raleigh.
* The Annual meeting got underway on November 15th with the Friday night Community Heroes Awards dinner.
Pictures from the start of the two-day event are displayed here...
* The dinner had Lee Woodruff, spouse of Bob Woodruff, ABC journalist who suffered a TBI while reporting on the war in '06, as Master of Ceremonies. Her story, as well as those individuals and groups honored at the event, are truly inspirational. The BobWoodruffFoundation.org was founded by Bob and Lee to assist wounded service members and their families.
* NOTE: When viewing thumbnails, use your mouse to left click on the (F)ast, (M)edium or (S)low controller found in the upper right corner of any image displayed...doing so will run a slide show of all the images at the rate of speed selected. Enjoy!
* Shown (L to R)
* GEN John H. Tilelli, Jr., USA-Ret., MOAA's Chair of the Board opened the Community Heroes Award Night.
The Presentation of Colors by the NORAD-NORTHCOM Joint Armed Services Honor Guard.
* MOAA's President, VADM Norb Ryan and NC Council VP Doug Ehrhardt.
* CAPT Ehrhardt, Nancy Garman, Cathy Ehrhardt and NC Council Immediate Past President LTC Robert Garman, USA-Ret.
* High Country President George Brudzinski with wife Colleen, Mike Rogers, member of the MOAA Board of Directors and Cathy Ehrhardt.
* Cathy Ehrhardt with MOAA Board member Brice Hamilton, CAPT, USN-Ret. and his wife Cindy.
* Bob and Nancy Garman.
* NC Council President COL Jeri Garman, husband COL Ed Baisden, and CAPT Marie Senzig, USN-Ret., Coastal Carolina President.
* Lee Woodruff served as MC to the Community Heroes Awards dinner.
* "In the Stairwell," U.S. Air Force Academy Cadets acapella choir entertained the audience with popular songs from broadway and the services.
* Link to Photo Gallery / MOAA National for LOTS more pictures of our NC Council's participation at the annual meeting.
* The High Country Chapter, MOAA, under the leadership of President Lt Col George Brudzinski, USMC-Ret. (right) has held a ceremony at the Boone Mall in Boone, NC every Memorial Day and Veterans Day for the past 7 years.
* The number of attendees at the ceremonies is always high due to the interest in the celebratory theme to honor our patriots, but also because of the strong commitment towards veterans in the most military friendly state...North Carolina.
* This years program attendance was the largest ever...following colors, the invocation, the recognition of attendees in the audience from WWII up to the present, and the introduction of guests, a program honoring the flag and military persons throughout American history was presented by Generation eXcellent, a group of 19 home-schooled children from Ashe County.
* NOTE: When viewing thumbnails, use your mouse to left click on the (F)ast, (M)edium or (S)low controller found in the upper right corner of any image displayed...doing so will run a slide show of all the images at the rate of speed selected. Enjoy!
Pictured in the thumbnails photographs:
The newly formed Watauga High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC presented the colors. The High Country Chapter was instrumental in helping to get this JROTC program established.
1st LT Seth Norris, High Country Chaplain gave the invocaion.
State Representative Jonathan Jordan, 1LT Norris, CAPT-Ret. Doug Ehrhardt, NC Council of Chapters VP, Congresswoman Virgina Foxx, Boone Town Council members Nathan Miller and Billy Kennedy, and Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson.
Generation eXcellent opens the program with a patiotic song, "I Love this Land".
Members of Generation eXcellent discuss the creation of the American Constitution.
Girls in period costumes decry the loss of loved ones in conflicts from the Revolution to modern day fighting in WWII, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Watauga Community Band played both before and after the program and made everyone feel a sense of pride through their patriotic selections.
* The Sandhills Chapter was instrumental in planning and execution of a parade - shown in the below video link. It was the first such parade in Southern Pines - and, as far as we know, Moore County - since 1923 when they had the last Armistice Day parade. A local businessman who helped us with online ticket sales for our concert made this video of the parade.
* Southern Pines, Aberdeen, and Pinehurst, NC, are small towns whose borders abut, forming essentially one contiguous community. In an effort to gain support for our concert from the three towns, we went to the town councils and briefed them on the project. All three agreed to provide assistance and support. The Southern Pines mayor suggested a parade which meant we had about two months to pull it together. Several organizations – VFW, VVA, DAV, American Legion, Masonic Lodge – pulled together to organize the parade. Our Chapter’s 1st VP (John Boesch - Co-chairman), 2nd VP (Tom Nesbit – Operations Director), and I (Admin Advisor) played key roles in organizing and executing the parade.
* Sandhills also arranged for the three mayors to sign a proclamation declaring 9-11 November “Veterans Weekend” which they signed at a press conference. As far as we can tell, it is the first time the mayors have signed a similar agreement for any event. We presented each mayor with a framed copy of the proclamation at the intermission during the concert.
* This was one of four events that the chapter sponsored over the weekend. The parade was on Saturday. On Sunday, 10 Nov, we held a patriotic pop concert at the local high school auditorium. It was well attended and a rousing success. We have been asked by numerous folks if we are having the band back for a concert next year and the Pinehurst mayor said “We need to have them back.”
* On Monday, 11 Nov at 1100 hours, we hosted the traditional Veterans Day Ceremony in the Pinehurst Village Hall with a full house attendance. The Chapter has hosted the ceremony for many years. The mayors of Pinehurst and Southern Pines were present as well as state representative Jamie Boles. This was the first time ever that the Southern Pines mayor has been in attendance and he has thanked me numerous times for the Chapter’s efforts toward the parade specifically and the weekend in general.
* Finally, at 1330 Monday afternoon, we hosted a Veterans Putting Challenge fund raiser for the DAV that was planned and executed by member Ed Cottrell (WWII vet), and directors Steve O’Brien and Jerry Townley. We had nine foursomes on the practice putting green at the local Mid Pines Golf Resort. Resort owner and golfing legend Peggy Kirk Bell was in attendance. Each foursome consisted of a veteran from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and a more recent conflict. The putting challenge raised about $10,000 for the Moore County DAV.
* Each event was hugely successful with good attendance and many compliments. Kudos to everyone who participated.
The North Carolina Council of Chapters President, LTC Robert Garman (shown at right with NC Senator Kay Hagan, Tammy Moore, MOAA Spouse Council Member, and COL Mike Rogers, USA, MOAA BOD member) participated in the annual MOAA Storming the Hill activities on April 17, 2013. Bob met with many of our state legislators and other representatives to carry MOAA's "One Powerful Voice" message to the decision makers in Congress, ensuring that they understood, and will support, the issues important to our military servicemembers, both retired and still serving.
Mouse over the thumbnail pictures to the right to see additional pictures from the full day of visiting the legislator's offices.
Pictured (L to R):
COL Mike Rogers, Tammy Moore, Representative David Price (NC04) and LTC Garman.
NC Representative Walter Jones' military legislative assistant, LTC Garman and COL Rogers.
Tammy Moore, Representative Price, and LTC Garman.
These photographs were taken by, or for, COL Jeri Graham, SENCLand Chapter President, and highlight the New Hanover County Veterans Council's participation in the Azalea Festival Parade honoring veterans on April 13, 2013.
Shown at right are COL Graham and COL Ed Baisden preparing to begin leading the parade.
Mouse over the thumbnail pictures at the right to see additional photographs from the parade.
NOTE: When viewing thumbnails, use your mouse to left click on the (F)ast, (M)edium or (S)low controller found in the upper right corner of any image displayed...doing so will run a slide show of all the images at the rate of speed selected. Enjoy!
* The North Carolina Council of Chapters “Convention at Sea” was held aboard the Carnival cruise liner Fantasy from February 13-18, 2013, and visited Nassau and Freeport in the Bahamas.
* Click on the below link to see pictures from the memorable 5-day excursion…oh, yes, the Council did hold two business sessions during the cruise and heard, as well as participated, in a variety of interesting discussions from representatives of MOAA National who joined us on the cruise.
* The Council's appreciation is extended to MG Joseph Lynch, MOAA's General Counsel, and Col. Brian Anderson, MOAA's Deputy Director of Council and Chapters Affairs for their support during the 2013 “Convention at Sea”.
