President’s
Message
HCMOAA Presidents message for
December 2007
The holiday season is upon us. We
will be gathering with family, loved ones and friends. We will exchange
gifts and pleasantries. Let us hope that the year 2008 will be a great
one for our country and us. Let’s always ask for God's
blessing.
The
November social went well with forty-seven and guests in attendance.
The meal was outstanding. LTCOL Philip Grathwol, USMC made a short
presentation on the positive attitude that prevails with our troops in
IRAQ. He also thanked us for our participation in the Toys-for-Tots
programs. He explained that several million children looked forward to
receiving gifts as a result of the program.
The
November meeting was also the HRCMOAA annual meeting. Captain Paul
Hollandsworth was elected as Second Vice-president for the 2008 year.
Captain John Colgan, Captain James Jones and Commander John Vermillion
were elected as two year members of the Board of Directors. Captain
William Lehr was elected to a one year term of the Board. All were
installed to their offices by Captain Ray Hart.
The HRCMOAA chapter is in need of a
recording secretary. I must not only be your president but must perform
the duties as recording secretary. If someone would
step forward and please volunteer to be the secretary, it would be
appreciated.
May
God be all of you this holiday season and the new year.
As
always, God Bless America
Jim
Dellaripa
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HRCMOAA
Directory
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Officers
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Directors
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Committees
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President: 640-0947
LtCol James M. Dellaripa Sr,
USAF-Ret.
hrmoaa@cox.net
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1st Vice President:
363-1094
MAJ Norman Crews,
USA-Ret.
ncrews1@cox.net
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2nd Vice President:
496-9248
CAPT Paul Hollandsworth,
USN Ret hollynav@aol.com
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Recording Secretary:
Volunteer Needed
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Treasurer: 518-0265
LCDR Walter Wesolowski, USN-Ret.
waltwes1@cox.net
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Program: 363-1094
MAJ Norm Crews,
USA Ret.
ncrews1@cox.net
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VCOC Representative:
382-9843
CDR John E. Vermillion,
USN-Ret.
vermillj@cox.net
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Legislative Affairs:
490-8383
Col Jack W. Hilgers,
USMC-Ret.
jackhilgers@earthlink.net
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Personal Affairs:
363-1094
MAJ Norm Crews,
USA-Ret.
ncrews1@cox.net
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Membership: 496-9524
CAPT John G. Colgan,
USN-Ret
john.colgan@verizon.net
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Publicity: 382-9843
CDR John E. Vermillion,
USN Ret.
vermillj@cox.net
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Community Affairs:
426-5392
CAPT Bill Lehr,
USCG-Ret.
bblehr@cox.net
CAPT Pat McFadden,
USN-Ret.
senchova@aol.com
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Information Systems:
490-5792
Maj Clifton G. Furedy,
USAF-Ret.
thrcmoaa@cox.net
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Webmaster: 490-5792
Maj Clifton G. Furedy,
USAF-Ret.
thrcmoaa@cox.net
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Editor: 382-9843
CDR John E. Vermillion,
USN-Ret.
Vermillj@cox.net
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From
the Editor
Virginia
Veterans Cemeteries
Are
you aware that the State operates two state cemeteries for veterans? The two cemeteries are:
The Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk and The
Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia.
Internments at both cemeteries have
increased nearly every year. The
Horton cemetery opened in 2004 and the Amelia cemetery opened in 1997.
The
Director of Cemeteries for the Virginia Department of Veterans Services
is Mr. Dan Kemano.
The
State of Virginia also has 15 national veterans cemeteries operated by
the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs plus the Arlington National
Cemetery which is operated by the Department of the Army. Only the Quantico,
Culpeper and Arlington National Cemeteries are accepting new burials.
Any
veteran with an honorable discharge, who is a Virginia resident at the
time of death or who was a Virginia resident at the time of enlistment
is eligible for interment at one of these state-operated cemeteries. This includes the spouse
and, in some cases, a dependent child may also be interred. There is no cost for the
Veterans grave site but a $300 fee is charged for the spouse. A memorial marker is
included as well as opening and closing the site.
Both cemeteries accommodate in-ground
burials and offer columbarium and ground sites for cremated interments. A committal shelter or
chapel is available for funeral services.
Military funeral honors are normally
provided.
Veterans
may file a pre-application for burial at one of the cemeteries, this
will determine eligibility for burial and lessen the burden on the
loved ones. They
may be filed at either cemetery during normal business hours, 0800
hours to 1700 hours. Pre-applications
are also be available at the web site, www.virginiaforveterans.com.
The
Albert G Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery is located at 5310
Milners Road in Suffolk. The
Amelia cemetery is located at 10300 Pridesville Road in Amelia. A third cemetery is slated
to open near the Radford Arsenal in Dublin, Virginia.
The target date for opening is the year
2010.
Please
remember that in addition to the pre-application form, you must submit
documentation of military service (DD214 or equivalent), proof of
Virginia residence and a copy of a marriage certificate, if applicable.
You must also inform cemetery management of other dependent eligibility
status at time of application.
If
approved, a file will be established in the veteran's name indicating
pre-approval of eligibility. The
pre-application does not reserve a site.
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| Courtesy of
the Arlington National Website Images |
Interested
Veterans may call (804) 561-1475 for the Amelia Cemetery or (757)
255-7217 for the Albert G. Horton Jr. Cemetery.
Both cemeteries are open to the public
during daylight hours.
John
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Urgent,
Your Help is Needed!
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| The Retired Activities Office located at
the
Norfolk Naval Base is in need of volunteers to man the help desk. Two
Hampton Roads RAO branches include the Norfolk Naval Station office and
the Naval Amphibious Base office. To get more information, please
contact Gene Crabtree at 322-9113. |
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Our Chapter is also in
need of a Secretary.
This
is not a difficult job and it will keep
your mind active while doing a
job that
will help your fellow members.
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| MOAA
Legislative Update |
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| Shingles Snafu: |
The
good news is that the new shingles vaccine is a TRICARE-covered
benefit, as of Oct. 19. The bad news for TRICARE For Life (TFL)
beneficiaries is that Medicare covers the vaccine under its
prescription plan, Part D. TFL beneficiaries don't have and don't need
Part D.
For TFL beneficiaries that means TRICARE provides first-payer coverage
for the vaccine. It also means that TFL beneficiaries who get the
vaccine are subject to the same $150 deductible and 25-percent copay
that apply to TRICARE beneficiaries under age 65. And it means that any
TRICARE beneficiary -- TFL or under age 65 -- who gets the vaccine
early in the fiscal year before they've met their deductible will pay
most or all of the cost out of pocket.
That's irksome for TFL folks who haven't paid deductibles and copays
for a while, but it's a fundamental of TRICARE coverage.
MOAA
believes two actions are needed here. First,
Medicare should cover the vaccine under Part B, not Part D. TRICARE
took the right step by covering the benefit under its health plan and
not as a pharmacy benefit.
Second,
MOAA thinks TRICARE should exempt this vaccine -- and other preventive
measures -- from the annual deductible. It's penny-wise and
pound-foolish to require payments that deter beneficiaries from getting
preventive treatments that will save TRICARE a lot more money in the
long run.
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Medicare/TRICARE Payment Fix On Tap?
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Democratic leaders want a
two-year fix. Republican leaders want a one-year fix. A one-year fix is
cheaper and doesn't require as many painful budget trade-offs. But it
also means we'd be back again year after year, with the same problem.
Unfortunately,
that's because appropriations arguments between Congress and the
Administration continue to delay almost all of the year's most
important funding decisions until the very end of the year.
The
Defense Appropriations Act has been signed into law, but the
appropriations bills for all other federal departments are wrapped up
in budgetary wrangling and veto threats.
MOAA would prefer a
longer-term fix on the doctor payments, but the only truly essential
thing is to get something done to reverse the cuts before the end of
every year.
Older Americans and military beneficiaries deserve
better than this annual threat of budget-driven cuts that would deter
more doctors from seeing them. |
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Cola watch
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| Reminder
for 2008: the vast majority of military retirees will see a
2.3% COLA, effective Dec. 1, 2007. It will first appear in the January
pay checks. |
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Veterans
Day, In Memory of All Veterans!
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World War I, then normally referred to
simply
as The Great War, ended with the implementation of an armistice, a
temporary cessation of hostilities. In this case until the
final
peace treaty, the infamous Treaty of Versailles, was signed in 1919
between the Allies and Germany at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day
of November, 1918.
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first
commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in
America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn
pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s
service
and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from
which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given
America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of
the nations…" |
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| The HRCMOAA has introduced a
Military ID Card Notification Program
to help chapter members remember to renew their ID cards and their
dependent's
ID cards in a timely fashion. Once you and your dependents
are enrolled,
you will be notified of your impending ID card expiration date in
sufficient
time for renewal prior to the expiration date. Note:
Over
age 75 members, who are eligible uniform family members and survivors
of
deceased personnel are now eligible for Permanent Identification
Cards.
Apply within 90 days of expiration of current ID card. |
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| To enroll in this voluntary program, fill
in the form at the link below
for each dependent and Send by Email or Print and Mail to: Military ID
Card Notification Program, HRCMOAA, P.O. Box 4612, Virginia Beach, VA
23454-0612. |
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HRCMOAA
November 30th Luncheon.
Toys- for- Tots and Annual Business Meeting.
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HRCMOAA November 30th Luncheon.
Toys- for- Tots and Annual Business Meeting.
Our guest speaker this year was LtCol
Grathwol,
USMC. He is currently the Site Commander of MAG-42,
Detachment B
in Norfolk, Virginia. He briefed members on the mission of
MAG-42. He also covered the mission of the Marines and the
good
that they were doing in the Middle East, Iraq and Pakistan. |
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| Shown above is HRCMOAA President, James Dellaripa
presenting the chapter Cup to LtCol Grathwol. |
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| The picture above
shows LtCol Grathwol and GySgt. Deena Coleman, Toys for Tots
Coordinator, as they accept some of the toys donated by our Chapter
members. |
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| In addition to Toys for Tots, the chapter
also
conducted their annual business meeting which included the installation
of new officers and board members. They are shown above, left
to
right; CAPT Bill Lehr,
USCG Ret., CAPT John
Colgan, USN Ret., CAPT
Paul “Holly” Hollandsworth, USN Ret., CDR John Vermillion,
USN Ret., and CAPT Ray
Hart, USN Ret., Immediate Past President. |
| Shown below is Mrs. Lucinda C. Williams
with LtCol Grathwol and President LtCol Jim Dellaripa. She
donated her 50/50 winnings to the Toys for Tots Program. |
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ROWS
Christmas
Dinner
&
Dance |
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| The HRCMOAA attends the Retired
Officers Wives Society (ROWS) Dinner Dance on December 7th, also Pearl
Harbor Day.
This annual event is held at the Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia
Beach. In addition to the Chapter, members of the Hampton
Roads Squadron of the Association of Naval Aviation were also
invited to attend. A good number of all three organizations
belong to each other's organization. It makes for a great
evening of
dinning, dancing and listening with the Walter Noona Band providing
many new and old tunes. This year the event coincided with
Pearl
Harbor Day. One of the attendees belongs to the Pearl Harbor
Survivors Society and gave a short talk on his recollection of that
day. Everyone had a great evening and all look forward to
next
years event. |
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2008
JROTC and ROTC Program
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The season starts as Princess Anne NJROTC
host the 2008 Drill off for an estimated 20 school JROTC programs from
as far away as Delaware. The program will be held at Rockwell
Hall on the Little Creek Amphibious Base. The date is 2
February 2008. The drill off will commence in the
AM. If you have never attended one of these functions, please
consider it this year! To see these young people perform is a
wonderful experience. You can come and watch the
different drills and leave when ever you want. “ It
is free” These young folks are our future!
Please contact Bill Lehr,
our Community Affairs Chair and volunteer to present an award at one of
our local High Schools as they hold their annual JROTC awards
ceremonies. I can attest that it is a very
rewarding experience.
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VCOC
Schedule
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The next VCOC quarterly meeting at Ft Lee, Petersburg, VA is 11 January
2008.
The Storming of the Hill in Richmond is 28 January 2008.
Please contact John
Vermillion, VCOC Representative if interested in going. |
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VCOC
Fund Raising Campaign for the Virginia War Memorial Education Center
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| The Education Center of the Virginia War
Memorial will require both
government and private funding. The Virginia War Memorial
Education
Foundation (VWMEF) is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt foundation - gifts are tax
deductible.
If there are enough people donating money (indicating "Virginia MOAA"
on
the naming contribution form), then we could earn a chance to
"name"
a room in the new education center for the Virginia Chapters of the
Military
Officers Association of America. The Veterans Research
Library requires
$50,000 of donations. A conference room requires
$25,000. If
most MOAA members in Virginia give a little, we could easily reach one
of the naming opportunities. The VWMEF website is www.vawarmemorial.org.
Telephone number is (804)786-2060. In the designation block
enter;
Hampton Roads Chapter, “Virginia MOAA.” The HRCMOAA
contributed $1,000
to this effort. We encourage all members to
consider donating
to this cause. A form is provided for your
convenience. Complete
and send to Virginia War Memorial Educational Foundation, 621 S.
Belvidere
St., Richmond, VA 23220-6504. |
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Virginia
War Memorial Educational Center Contribution
Form
Yes, I wish to honor our heroes and
help to educate the public on the
significant contributions made by Virginians to preserve and protect
our
country’s freedoms.
$25____
$50____ $100____ $_________
Name:
Street:
City:
State:
Zip code:
Check payable to the VWMEF is
enclosed. Or,
Charge my gift to:
Master card___ Visa___ AmExp___, Discover___
Card#_______________________________
Exp.Date_______
Signature___________________
Credit: Hampton Roads Chapter,
Virginia MOAA.
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Armed
Services YMCA
Five Star Military Family Recognition
16 November 2007
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The Hampton Roads
Chapter MOAA sponsored a table at the Family Recognition
Luncheon. The Chapter donated $400 to support the mission of
the ASYMCA which is to improve the quality of life for junior enlisted
military personnel and their families. A family from each of
the services, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force was
recognized for their community support efforts.
Left to Right; CDR John
E. Vermillion, USN Ret., LCDR Walt Wesolowski,
USN Ret., LtCol Keith E.
Andrews, USAF, CMSGT
Donald Alexander, USAF, Col Tony Dominice,
USAF. LtCol
James Dellaripa, USAF Ret.
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Chapter
Schedule
For the most current and up-to-date schedule
of chapter events, click
on Calendar of Events
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Dec 2007: ROWS Dinner Dance, 07
December, was
held at the Princess Anne Country Club, with the Walter Noona Band.
Jan
2008: No program scheduled.
Feb 2008: To be determined.
Mar 2008: No program scheduled.
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The
Hampton Roads Chapter MOAA participates in the Veterans Day Parade on
11/12/07
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Pictured above is COL James Smith, USA
Ret., LCDR Walt
Wesolowski, USN Ret., CDR
John E. Vermillion, USN Ret., and LtCol James Dellaripa,
USAF Ret.
The Virginia Beach parade is sponsored by the Hampton Roads council of
Veterans Organizations and co-sponsored this year by the Submarine
Veterans. Shown below are several children who were out to
greet the parade participants and enjoy the wonderful day.
There were over 6o units participating in the parade. |
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After the parade and Grandstand ceremonies
were complete, the Dedication at the Veterans Memorial Park was
conducted by reading of names honoring veterans whose names are
engraved on memorial pavers that have been laid at the Veterans
Memorial Park.
A luncheon followed at the Double Tree Hotel where the Guest Speaker
was FT1(SS) Paul B. Rice, USN Ret., a member of the Submarine Veterans. |
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MOAA
Scholarship Fund
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| Memorial contributions may be made to the
MOAA Scholarship Fund, for
deceased members of our Chapter, at Dept 889, Alexandria, VA
22334-0889.
Contributions may also be made at www.moaa.org.
Or you may call 800-234-6622. |
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Note
to Movers
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If
you move please let the Chapter know by
following the directions above.
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HRCMOAA
Membership
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| Regular |
518
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| Auxiliary |
94
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| Honorary |
3
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| Total |
615
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Every Chapter member should
check on their friends to see if
they are still members. Could be they just forgot to renew.
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Invalid
Email Addresses
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If you change your email address please let
the Chapter know via email
to
Clif Furedy at thrcmoaa@cox.net
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"DENNIS R KELLER"
<dkvabch@cox.net>
"LANCE R McBRIDE" <lancemcbride@cox.net>
"CARL A MORRIS" <morrisc1a1@cox.net>
JAMES J WHITUS" <jwhitus@cox.net>
"SHELDON L CORNER" <scorner5@cox.net>
"WALLACE R HUNTER" <hrwlmr@cox.net>
"RALPH A WRIGHT" <rawright2@cox.net>
"CARROLL E CLAUSEN" <ccla830735@aol.com>
"JOHN P MAYNARD" <jpmsrasm@juno.com>
"ROBERT C WALLACE" <bobcwilly@aol.com>
"KENT J WEBER" <kjcurly@verizon.net>
"JERRY W ODOM" <jerry027@verizon.net>
"TIMOTHY J STARK" <vabchstarks1@cautel.net>
"WILLIAM M FITZSIMMONS" <bfitzsim@scires.com>
"HOMER C COOK" <cook-dd-hc@worldnet.att.net>
"WILLIAM A NAGY" <thenag@earthlink.net>
"CHARLES W GNILKA" <cnilka@earthlink.net>
"WILLIAM C BUNCH" <billiebunch@webtv.net>
"ROBERT F DEEGAN" <DeeganUSN@webtv.net>
"BRUCE D COLE" <bcole9949@hotmail.com>
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IN
MEMORIUM
Grace
H. Darrah
wife of LCDR Paul F. Darrah, USN Ret.
LtCol
Mary “Lou” Baeumel
USAFNC Ret.
Lou was a past member of the Board of Directors
for the HRCMOAA and volunteered
to help where ever help was needed.
Col
Richard A. Vogel
USAF Ret.
Col Dick Vogel USAF passed away on December 7th. Dick was considered
the “silent backbone” of the Hampton Roads Chapter
of MOAA. During his many years with the chapter he served in many
capacities: Board member, Second VP, First VP, and President in 1990.
Dick also was the award winning Editor of the Chapter’s
Bulletin for twenty years. He also maintained the
Chapter’s membership data base until a few months ago.
He printed out all the labels for our mailings to members.
His unfortunate passing leaves a large void which will be difficult for
the Chapter to fill. God Speed, Dick!
By CAPT Ray Hart, USN Ret. and
Immediate Past President
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