chaptersinaction Patriotic Duty

MOAA chapter members run community-based service projects that honor servicemembers, and they act as a local resource for military families following a move.

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uly is a month when many active duty servicemembers are being reassigned and are taking

leave and moving to new communi- ties. This is a challenging time filled with excitement and anxiety for the entire family — the move, packing and unpacking, and then trying to as- similate in their new home and duty station. Some servicemembers might even begin the process of transitioning out of the military into a second ca- reer. I know of no better way to learn about the intricacies of a new commu- nity and installation than to reach out to local experts, our chapter members, who can help explain the things that won’t show up in welcome kits and in- processing packets.

Our council and chapter members continue to be our best ambassadors and are the face of MOAA within their communities. They live, work, and play in their communities. So what makes our chapter members such a special resource? They under- stand the sacrifices servicemembers and their families make because they are former and retired servicemem- bers who served multiple tours, many

On the road: This month, Col. Barry Wright, USA (Ret), director, MOAA Coun- cil and Chapter Affairs, will visit chapter members in Pennsylvania. See MOAA Calendar, page 78, for dates.

in harm’s way, most with spouses who dealt with too many moves and the constant challenge of always trying to find new employment with each new assignment. Their children just want- ed to make friends and complete their school requirements, not move again. It turns out many of the challenges in our military lifestyle have remained constant over the decades. MOAA has over 400 chapters

across the country, with many located adjacent to or near a military installa- tion. Others, like the Middle Tennes- see Chapter in Nashville, are located in major cities where our members moved when they transitioned out of the military. Regardless of your per- sonal situation, most likely a chapter is located in the area where you are being reassigned or are moving to. Many chapters have a transition liaison chair and, at the council level, a state networking coordinator, who acts as the focal point for assisting MOAA members who are separating and moving into the civilian job mar- ket. If you are interested in locating your nearest chapter, visit www.moaa .org/chapterlocator or contact us and we can provide you information about the nearest chapter. If you find yourself going through the PCS process this summer or if you are starting the process of transition- ing out of the military, it might be to

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your advantage to get some informa- tion about the community from the local ambassador: a chapter member who has experienced most, if not all, of the challenges you now face. As you get settled in, I hope to see you at the local chapter meeting.

— Col. Barry Wright, USA (Ret), Director, Council and Chapter Affairs

Remembering

Their Service Chapter members honor the contributions of veterans.

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ne of the worst things you can do is forget a vet- eran’s service and sacrifice.

That’s why many MOAA chapters participate in Wreaths Across Amer- ica, a national program that works to honor, teach, and remember the con- tributions of our nation’s veterans Members of the Greater Rome-Uti-

ca (N.Y.) Chapter (http://grucmoaa .org) participate in Wreaths Across America, which is held each year in December. Since the program started four years ago, the number of cem- eteries and volunteers that participate has increased, as well as the number of area businesses that purchase wreaths. In 2015, chapter President Lt.

PHOTO: SEAN SHANAHAN