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The Bi-Monthly Newsletter
of the Hampton Roads Chapter
Military Officers Association
of America
A MOAA Five Star Level of Excellence
Chapter Since 2004.
A Winner Website For 2013, A
2nd Runner Up Printed Newsletter 2013, and Winner E Newsletter 2013.
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Serving Chesapeake,
Norfolk, and Virginia Beach since 1959
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VOL 38-NO 4
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ONE POWERFUL VOICE
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JULY 2014
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THE TRIBUTE
In honor of those who have
sacrificed
to keep our country free.
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Courtesy
of the Arlington National Cemetery Website Images
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Summer
Brunch Mixer
13 July 2014
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| The Portsmouth Area Chapter, Virginia
Peninsula Chapter and your Hampton Roads Chapter of MOAA are hosting a
brunch mixer at the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel and Conference Center on
Sunday 13 July at 1100 hours. All members are cordially invited to
attend. The hotel is located at 2800 Shore Drive in Virginia Beach.
Visit, http://tradewindsrestaurant.com/Sunday-brunch.html .
Cost of the brunch will be $27 each plus tax and gratuity, which will be
billed individually by the hotel staff. Cash bar is available.
Reservations are required NLT 1200 on 9 July 2014. Please call or
email Bert Ortiz at 757-482-1995, bertortiz@cox.net . There will
be no card notification. |
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| Visit our website at www.hrcmoaa.org,
read the Electronic Newsletter, access Virginia Council of Chapters, MOAA
National, Service Departments, Health and Benefit locations, U. S.
Senators and Representatives and many others. If you do not have
the Members Only “Password” please contact any of our Officers |
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Luncheon 19 September
2014
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| VADM Bruce Grooms, USN will be
our guest speaker. As the DCOS for Capability Development looking
to the future of NATO, it will be of a great interest to hear his comments
on issues and challenges from his perspective of current events (i.e. Ukraine,
Afghan elections and post-14 NATO support to Afghan gov't, etc.).
Following completion of nuclear power training he served in nearly every
capacity aboard a variety of submarines, including a tour as executive
officer of USS Pasadena (SSN 752) where he twice deployed to the Persian
Gulf. His command tours included USS Asheville (SSN 758) where the
ship earned the Battle Efficiency "E" award, the Golden Anchor, and the
Silver Anchor for the highest retention in the Submarine Force. He subsequently
served as commander, Submarine Squadron Six and later as commander, Submarine
Group Two. |
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President’s Message
Fellow Officers and Spouses:
We are completing a very successful year
of service to the community – a tribute to all of us and our Chapter. A
few examples: a. Our financial support to The Virginia Wounded Warrior
Program and other worthwhile efforts; b. The Army & Navy ROTC
Programs at all of all of our local Colleges; c. The Jr. ROTC Program
at our local High Schools; d. The Memorial Day Services in Virginia
Beach & Chesapeake; and, e. The College Scholarship Fund through
National MOAA.
Our biggest challenge continues to be membership
renewal and new members. Our Membership Chair, COL Larry King “Live”,
USMC, (Ret) works 24/7 at renewals and new members. We need everyone’s
help. If you have renewed for 2014, thank you – if not, please consider
renewing as you read my note. We will remain viable, strong and have
an impact on our legislators at the State and National levels only if we
maintain a high membership. DO YOUR PART – KEEP US STRONG.
Contact Larry (757) 650-1086 or me (757) 434-1259 – we will take it from
there.
As with everything, expenses continue to
increase yet your Officers and Board of Directors continue to plan and
manage our Chapter extremely well which allows us to maintain relatively
low dues and our monthly luncheons are a bargain at $20.00. We have
varied and interesting speakers scheduled each month and the camaraderie
enjoyed by all makes for a great day. Hope to see all of you there.
Enjoy the rest of the beautiful summer here in the Tidewater area.
Thank you,
Jim Edge |
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HRCMOAA COMMUNITY
AFFAIRS
as of 7 June 2nd
QTR
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| The Community Affairs continues to be
vibrant and involved.
Status of HRCMOAA ROTC Scholarship Fund
YTD:
49% of overall 5 year goal of
$25,000,
49% of annual goal of $5,000.
Over 70% of chapter planned Community
Affairs Activities YTD completed.
In this quarter specifically, presentation
of gold bars to those being commissioned were completed for the three university
programs (ODU AROTC, NSU AROTC, Hampton Roads NROTC Unit (HU, ODU, and
NSU)).
Also MOAA Leadership Medals have been presented
to selected cadets from the three ROTC programs and 15 local high schools.
On 3 May the Departure Ceremony for Honor
Flight which the chapter instituted was conducted for World War II and
Korean War veterans.
Several members participated in Memorial
Day activities in Virginia Beach and in Chesapeake. The chapter presented
wreaths at both events. |
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| Legislative Update |
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| Fixing the VA
On June 5, Senate Veterans Affairs Committee
Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) agreed on
the framework of a bipartisan veterans’ health care bill.
The bill would implement a number of reforms
to fix the problems exposed by the recent scandal that resulted in VA Secretary
Eric Shinseki’s resignation. The omnibus proposal improves VA health care
from a number of angles, including:
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expedite the hiring of new medical personnel
at hospitals and clinics that lack enough doctors, nurses, and other necessary
medical staff
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authorize the VA to lease 26 new medical facilities
to expand access to care
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expedite authority to fire incompetent high
level VA officials
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allow veterans living more than 40 miles from
a VA hospital or clinic to access healthcare through private providers
allow veterans unable be seen within VA health care access standards to
be seen by private doctors, community health centers, DoD medical facilities
(if the local facility determines it has space available), and facilities
funded by the Indian Health Service
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establish an independent commission to improve
VA health care scheduling and construction
It also improves the Post-9/11 GI Bill by
ensuring that veterans receive in-state tuition rates at public universities
and colleges, and extends GI bill benefits to the surviving spouses of
veterans killed on active duty.
This bipartisan agreement includes many
improvements already passed by the House.
Although MOAA is encouraged by the collaboration
of both parties to find a solution to improve access, we remain concerned
how this bill could impact access to military treatment facilities for
current TRICARE beneficiaries.
Also this week, MOAA President Vice Adm.
Norb Ryan, USN (Ret) spoke on the VA health care problems during a June
2 interview on ABC's Washington, DC affiliate.
View
the video and learn more about MOAA’s
proposal to conduct a full review of the VA health system to initiate
additional reforms |
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| Bill Will Boost VA Survivor Pay
On May 21, Rep. John Tierney (D-Mass.)
introduced H.R. 4741, the Surviving Spouses Benefits Improvement Act.
The bill would increase Dependency Indemnity
Compensation (DIC) payments a surviving spouse receives from the VA when
a servicemember or veteran dies from a service-connected cause.
Under current law, an eligible surviving
spouse receives $1,233 per month in DIC. The amount is based off 43 percent
of the basic compensation for a veteran with a 100 percent disability rating.
H.R. 4741 increases that percentage to 55 percent, consistent with other
federal employee programs. If enacted, the new DIC rate would be $1,572
per month.
The bill would exempt the increase in DIC
payments from the unfair offset for survivors eligible to receive both
a DoD Survivor’s Benefit Plan annuity (SBP) and DIC.
Full
elimination of the SBP-DIC offset remains a top legislative goal of
MOAA and The Military Coalition. |
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| From the Editor |
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| All chapter members are encouraged
to donate to the MOAA scholarship fund. We need more members to contribute.
Every penny helps provide educational assistance to a college student from
a military family. MOAA issues about $9 million in assistance each
school year. Last year our HRCMOAA area had 72 students that were
recipients of financial assistance.
Six of these students have parents who
are members of our Hampton Roads Chapter of MOAA. |
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| Membership |
| All Concerned Members,
Greetings from your fellow MOAA members!
If you are a national MOAA member but not as a local Hampton Roads Chapter
(HRC) MOAA member, what are you waiting for? We understand that everyone
is busy and that this was probably an oversight that you want to correct
immediately.
For your convenience, our website has three
options to join or renew your membership at this link: http://www.hrcmoaa.org/join.shtml
a. MOAA’s online chapter membership
dues site has launched. We are pleased to provide an online Hampton Roads
Chapter dues program so we can offer our members an option to join or renew
HRCMOAA memberships (Regular, 1-year only) online using a credit card.
Click
here to renew by credit card.
b. If you prefer to take advantage
of the HRCMOAA membership multiyear discounts offered. You can access
the membership form which is printed on the last page of our bi-monthly
newsletter "The Tribute" or, An option on the website can be filled-in
on the computer and then printed, while the other option is blank and just
for printing and then filling in by hand.
Chapter Name: HRCMOAA, Chapter Recruiter:
COL Larry King "LIVE" USMC (RET)
Remember; If you are already a Chapter
Member and not a member of National MOAA, please join MOAA as it is required
to maintain our 5 STAR status.
Click
here to learn more about MOAA and join today!
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HRCMOAA ROTC Scholarship
Fund
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| HRCMOAA is committed to funding
the MOAA scholarship fund at $25,000 in 5 years. That translates into $5,000
per year.
Please consider contributing this year!
Members may submit to the chapter treasurer,
LT
Stephen Hackney, USN-Ret at 1736 Rally Dr. Virginia Beach, VA 23454-1233
or in person at our luncheons. The checks are consolidated
and submitted to MOAA who sends receipts to the donors.
Members who already donate to the national
MOAA Scholarship may continue to do so. You just need to note on the check
that it is for the Hampton Roads Chapter ROTC Scholarship Fund. MOAA will
continue to send receipts to the donors. |
Hampton Roads Chapter ROTC
Scholarship Fund
Goal for 2016: $25,000.00 Collected to date; $12,250.00.
Goal for 2014: $5,000.00 Collected to
date, $2,150.00.
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2014
Contributions
PLATINUM $500
and above
GOLD $250 to $499
Clif Furedy $300
SILVER $100 to
$249
Jack Hilgers $200
John Vermillion $200
Bronze Under $100
Capt David Yacavone, USN-Ret
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Military ID Card
Notification Program
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| This program is designed to help Chapter
members and their dependent’s to renew their 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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Chesapeake Memorial
Day Ceremony
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| The ceremony was sponsored by the Mayors
Commission on Veterans Affairs. Chapter wreath laying was by CDR
Bert Ortiz, USN-Ret., Ms Anne Darwin AUX USN, and CDR Matt
Krakower, USN-Ret. Col Alberto Cruz, USAF was the guest
speaker. |
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World War ll Memorial
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Honor Flight
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At Zero Dark Thirty Saturday May 3, 2014
Old Dominion University, Norfolk
State University, Princess Anne and Lands
Town High Schools respective ROTC and JROTC students lined up in preparation
to render honors to WWII and KOREAN WAR veterans. The Veterans walk to
awaiting buses that will transport them to Washington, DC to visit various
War Memorials. This ceremony takes place twice a year (Fall/Spring) and
is also joined by several civic and veteran organizations. Hampton Roads
Southside coordinators included: MOAA Board of Director, CAPT Mike "Breeze"
Barea, USN (Retired) and Old Dominion University Senior Military
Instructor, MSG Todd M. Bair, US Army. Honor Flight Historic Triangle
Virginia (HFHTVA) is a Williamsburg-based non-profit organization established
in October 2008 with one goal: To take every World War II and terminally
ill veteran in the Hampton Roads and Richmond areas, that are able and
have not visited the World War II Memorial built in their honor.
In addition to the WWII Memorial, other scheduled stops include Arlington
National Cemetery and the Marine Corps War ( Iwo Jima) Memorial, Korean
War, and/or Vietnam War Memorials. There is no charge to the veterans.
HFHTVA is a hub of the National Honor Flight Network, which was founded
in 2005 and has over 100 hubs throughout the United States. They
have taken over 100,000 veterans to the memorials as of April 2013. |
Photo and article by
Breeze |
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NAVAL/ARMY ROTC Commission
Ceremony
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Old Dominion University (ODU) Ted Constant
Convocation Center was the site for the annual Spring US ARMY and
US NAVAL SERVICE ROTC Commission Ceremony held on Friday 09 MAY 2013.
The US Army's ODU Monarch Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel
Brian Kerns, USA commissioned 26 Second Lieutenants in the US Army,
Army National Guard and Army Reserves. The Hampton Roads NROTC Unit, commanded
by Captain Daniel Cave, USN is a consortium comprised of four universities;
Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University, Regent University and
Hampton University. The Naval Service ROTC Unit commissioned 28 Ensigns
in the Navy and 2 Second Lieutenants in the United States Marine
Corps. The ceremony was honored to have Rear Admiral Douglas G.
Morton, Commander Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic as
the guest speaker. Chapter president Colonel Jim Edge, USA (Ret)
and Board of Director Captain Mike "Breeze" Barea, USN (Ret), attended
the ceremony presenting GOLD BARS to newly commissioned officers.
Pictured above are the newly commissioned Naval Officers after completing
their Oath of Office. Pictured is LTJG Jacqueline Fitzmorris, USN,
Commission Ceremony Coordinator and MOAA Hampton Roads Board Of Director
CAPT Mike "Breeze" Barea, USN (Ret).
(Top Photo and article by Breeze) |
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Pictured is LTJG Jacqueline Fitzmorris,
USN, Commission Ceremony Coordinator and MOAA Hampton Roads Board Of Director
CAPT Mike "Breeze" Barea, USN (Ret).
(Top Photo and article by
Breeze) |
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Virginia Wesleyan Commissioning
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| Ms. Autumn Watson was commissioned
a 2ndLt. In the Signal Corps, US Army at Virginia Wesleyan College.
She reported to her first duty station on Wednesday 21 May 2014.
The Virginia Wesleyan College ROTC Marlin Detachment is a part of the Old
Dominion ROTC Monarch Battalion. Remarks were presented by Dr. William
T. Greer, Jr., President, Virginia Wesleyan College. Her
mother and sister pinned on her bars and her uncle, a Retired USCG Master
Chief rendered the traditional first salute to the new LT. Our President,
COL
Jim Edge, USA-Ret. presented her with a set of gold bars and the one
year electronic membership in National MOAA. |
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Memorial Day, 26
May 2014
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| The event was held at the Tidewater Veterans
Memorial and the Veterans Memorial Park in Virginia Beach. The Master
of Ceremonies was our own COL Floyd Gilbert, USA-Ret. Opening
Remarks were by the Honorable William Sessoms, Jr., Mayor of Virginia
Beach. The Keynote Address was by CAPT Christopher Chope,
USN, Commanding Officer of NAS Oceana. Laying of the Chapter Wreath
was COL Jim Smith, USA-Ret, COL Jim Edge, USA-Ret., CAPT
Jim Jones, USN-Ret. and COL Jack Hilgers, USMC-Ret. in the back
of the pack.
Reading of names honoring veterans whose
names are engraved on memorial pavers that have been laid at the Veterans
Memorial Park since Veterans Day 2013 followed laying of the wreaths. |
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Virginia Wounded Warrior Program
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| The Virginia Veterans Services Foundation
is taking contributions to support the Program.
I am enclosing/pledging my most generous
contribution in the amount of:
__ $1,000 __ $500
__ $250 __ $100 ? __$50 __ Other $_________
Please make checks payable to:
Virginia Veterans Services Foundation
For: VWWP
900 East Main Street, Ground Floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Your contribution is tax exempt under Internal
Revenue Service Section 170 (c) and Code of Virginia Section 2.2.2719.
Please provide the following;
Name(s) ______________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________________
Phone _______________________
Email_______________________________________
HRCMOAA Member
Yes ___ No ___
You may donate on line by visiting the
Virginia Veterans Services Foundation at;
www.vvsf.org |
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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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Summer Brunch Mixer 21 July 2014
The Portsmouth Area Chapter, Virginia
Peninsula Chapter and your Hampton Roads Chapter of MOAA are hosting a
brunch mixer at the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel and Conference Center on
Sunday 13 July at 1100 hours. |
| No Luncheon in August |
19 September Luncheon, will be held
at Atlantic Shores
Program: VADM Bruce Grooms, USN
will be our guest speaker. |
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VCOC Schedule
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| The follow-on VCOC meetings are scheduled
for 9 July and 8 October. Contact our VCOC representative CAPT
Jim Jones, USN-Ret. at 777-5972 or COL Jim Smith at 377-2748
for transportation and other details. |
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25 April Luncheon
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| Chapter President, COL Jim Edge,
USA-Ret, presents the Jefferson Cup to Kate Sullivan of the Mariners
Museum’s USS Monitor Center. Kate discussed the conservation, archaeology,
history and artifacts of the famed Civil War ironclad. |
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| Virginia Wounded Warrior Program |
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| COL Jim Edge, USA-Ret, HRCMOAA
president, presents a check for $1,000.00 to Carol Berg, Regional
Director/ Greater Hampton Roads for the Department of Veterans Services,
Virginia Wounded Warrior Program. The check was presented after our
25 April luncheon. |
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30 May Luncheon
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| Angel Flight, Air Compassion for Veterans.
Ms. Jacqueline O’Dell, was our guest speaker. This superb non-profit’s
mission is to ensure that no patient in need is denied access to distant
specialized medical evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation
for lack of a means of long-distance medical air transportation.
Partners with American Airlines. They fly
up to 33,000 trips in one year. |
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| Our President Jim Edge introduces
two new members, l-r, Col Elliott “Sonny” Laine, USMC-Ret. and LtCol
Marcus Boggs, USMC-Ret. |
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IN MEMORIAM
CDR John L. Brockman, Jr., USN-Ret
LCDR Charles W. Lynch, USN-Ret
Joanne Wade - 15 May 2014
Member Spouse
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