chaptersinaction Living History
MOAA chapter members are teaching students about the price of freedom and what it means to be a veteran by sharing their experiences at local schools.
S
ince MOAA’s chapter sys- tem was established almost 60 years ago, chapter mem-
bers have supported students at high schools and colleges across the coun- try. Some chapters have elected to present scholarships to college-bound students, while others have chosen to award MOAA medals to standout ca- dets and midshipmen who participate in Junior ROTC and ROTC units at high schools, colleges, and universi- ties in their communities. Several MOAA chapters are
reaching out to students in their hometowns by participating in programs like Veterans in the Class- room. Through these programs, chapter members travel to schools in their communities to share their military experiences with students and help them develop an appre- ciation for the military and what it means to be a veteran. Much of the information chapter members impart to students focuses on the military’s role in protect- ing the many freedoms we enjoy as
On the road: This month, Col. Lee Lange II, USMC-Ret., director of MOAA’s Council and Chapter Affairs Department, will visit members of the Whidbey Island Chapter in Oak Harbor, Wash. Go to MOAA Calendar, page 112, for the date.
Americans. In some jurisdictions, these classroom presentations also can help satisfy state educational requirements to introduce and dis- cuss the concepts of civic duty and public service. Chapter members who partici- pate in these programs are quick to point out the advantages. The programs don’t cost much to set up, and it’s a rewarding experience for everyone involved. Veterans in the Classroom takes on special significance in commu- nities where there are no military installations and very few service- members. The program also allows World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans to provide a firsthand account of historical events they lived through — infor- mation that one day will be found only in textbooks. Chapters that participate in
these programs are raising aware- ness of MOAA and its missions in their communities. Since the Lancaster (Pa.) Chapter started Adopt-a-Kid/Adopt-a-Vet 10 years ago, countless articles and photos of members interacting with students have appeared in area newspapers, and several local TV stations have covered the effort. Programs like Veterans in the
Classroom and Adopt-a-Kid/Adopt- 44 MILITARY OFFICER MARCH 2011
a-Vet illustrate the many ways chapter members help national MOAA accomplish its mission. If you haven’t been to an MOAA chap- ter meeting lately, you’re missing out. Visit
www.moaa.org/chapters/ locator to find an MOAA chapter near you.
— Col. Lee Lange II, USMC-Ret. Director, Council and Chapter Affairs
From One Generation
E
to Another Veterans give students a living history lesson.
lementary school students in Lancaster County, Pa., are learning military history
from veterans who have lived it, thanks to the Lancaster Chapter’s Adopt-a-Kid/Adopt-a-Vet program. Founded in April 2001, the annual program allows more than 15 chap- ter members to visit classrooms in schools in their communities dur- ing the Veterans Day and Memorial Day holidays. Each veteran meets with a small group of students who interview him or her for about 45 minutes. Teachers provide the stu- dents with lists of questions they
PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT
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