rapidfire

Community Heroes

G

en. Charles T. Robertson Jr., USAF (Ret),

chair of MOAA’s board of directors, welcomed more than 500 guests to MOAA’s fifth annual Com- munity Heroes Award dinner, which included presentation of MOAA’s Military Family National Service Award and Com- munity Heroes Award. Robertson introduced

Annual Meeting M

OAA’s 2015 An- nual Meeting of the Member-

ship opened with a wel- come from Gen. Charles T. Robertson Jr., USAF (Ret), chair of MOAA’s board of directors, who then called the meeting to order. Following an invoca- tion from MOAA national chaplain Col. Robert Certain, USAFR (Ret), and the pledge of allegiance, Maj. Gen. Joe Lynch, USAF (Ret), MOAA general counsel; Robertson; and MOAA President Vice Adm. Norbert R. Ryan Jr., USN (Ret), gave their reports. Robertson highlighted the

growth of MOAA — to more than 390,000 members; the efforts of the Government Relations team to protect the earned benefits of the military; and the strength of the chapter and council system. “The chapter and council system is the heart and soul of what MOAA is about,” he said. Ryan mentioned several

recent changes, including the MOAA logo refresh, the redesigned website, and the new tagline, “Never Stop Serving.” He also discussed the associa- tion’s legislative accom- plishments but cautioned next year will be a chal-

lenge on Capitol Hill, with continued pay and health care threats. “You never will win everything in Washington, but you never give up,” Ryan said. He emphasized that MOAA doesn’t just point out what’s wrong but offers solutions to fix problems, citing the recently estab- lished VA Commission on Care, for which MOAA advocated. Additionally, Ryan highlighted some of the association’s member products and services. The meeting concluded after members had the op- portunity to ask questions and offer comments.

the evening’s master of ceremonies, Lee Woodruff, whose husband, Bob, a television journalist, was severely injured after his vehicle was hit by a road- side bomb while covering the war in Iraq. Together, the couple founded the Bob Woodruff Foundation to as- sist wounded servicemem- bers and their families with receiving care they need to help them reintegrate into their communities. Following dinner,

Woodruff introduced Bonnie Carroll, president and founder of the Trag- edy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), recipient of MOAA’s Military Family National Service Award. “Bonnie embodies the best of what it means to be an American,” Woodruff said. Carroll created TAPS fol- lowing the death of her husband, Army Brig. Gen.

online: Read full coverage of the annual meeting and find awardee biographies at www.moaa.org/2015annualmeeting. 26 MILITARY OFFICER JANUARY 2016

PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT