chaptersinaction Chapter Achievements

From the Field: New Hampshire Chapter Members of the New Hampshire Chapter (www.moaa-nh.org) pre- sented their Granite State Warriors Awards to Jo Moncher, bureau chief of Military Programs for the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, and leaders from BAE Systems in Nashua, N.H. The annual awards recognize individ- uals and businesses that support New Hampshire veterans and enhance the nation’s war-fighting capabilities. Moncher was recognized for de-

veloping state-level partnerships between military and civilian health care providers, and BAE Systems was honored for its work on the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System. U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta (N.H.) also attend- ed and congratulated the recipients.

Sun City Center (Fla.) Chapter Operation Warmheart, which assists needy military families at MacDill AFB, Fla., received a $2,100 donation from members of the Sun City Cen- ter Chapter (www.moaa.org/chap ter/suncitycenter). Chapter Presi- dent former Navy Reserve Lt. Thom Brown presented the donation on be- half of the chapter to representatives from the First Sergeants Council, which runs the program. The 180-member chapter hosts an annual golf tournament to raise money for local charities such as Op- eration Warmheart and Heaven on Earth for Veterans Inc., which pro- vides housing for veterans in need.

Green Valley (Ariz.) Chapter The Green Valley Chapter (http:// greenvalleymoaa.org) received a

$5,000 grant in 2014 from the Armed Services Mutual Benefit Association STAR Foundation in Goodlettsville, Tenn., which supports military chari- ties nationwide. Chapter President former Army 1st Lt. Richard Newman says the money will be donated to sev- eral charities the chapter supports. Chapter leaders donated $1,442 to a food pantry that serves members of the 162nd Fighter Wing of the Ari- zona Air National Guard in Tucson. Grant money also was used to sup- port a local Junior ROTC program, fund a chapter-sponsored scholar- ship, and contribute to the Turkeys for Troops program that assists low- er-income military families by pro- viding them a gift card to purchase a turkey during the holidays.

(clockwise from top left) First Sergeants Council representa- tives accept a donation from the Sun City Center (Fla.) Chapter. Green Val- ley (Ariz.) Chapter President former Army 1st Lt. Richard Newman, right, gives a $1,442 donation to a food pantry that supports servicemembers. Ozark Empire (Mo.) Chapter leaders present a check to Vanniecia Brown, center, of the St. Louis Fisher House.

46 MILITARY OFFICER JULY 2015

Ozark Empire (Mo.) Chapter Members of the Ozark Empire Chap- ter (www.oemoaa.us) in Springfield, Mo., support Fisher House. Earlier this year, chapter President Lt. Col. Frank Bridges, USA (Ret), and awards coordinator Maj. Bryan Hutchings, USAF (Ret), presented a $604 dona- tion to Vanniecia Brown, manager of the St. Louis Fisher House. Chap- ter members funded the donation through 50-50 raffle ticket sales. The Fisher House Foundation has 46 Fisher Houses across the country. Missouri has one Fisher House, which provides free lodging to military families whose loved ones are being treated at hospitals and VA medical facilities in St. Louis.

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— Contributors are Col. Barry Wright, USA (Ret), director, Council and Chapter Affairs; Col. Brian Anderson, USAF (Ret), deputy director; and Kris Ann Hegle. For submission information, see page 6.