Ozark Empire Chapter Newsletter

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This months words from the Chapter President - March 2020

Welcome to Spring! Winter, though no longer a season than any of the others, is always welcome – to go on its way out of here. It’s good to see warmer temperatures coming our way. That lets us all get out of doors, and enjoy this wonderful world that we live in.

As for OEMOAA activities, we are anticipating three Honor Flights this year. Honor Flight continues to be our Chapter’s chosen charity. We support it via our monthly 50/50 drawing, held at each monthly meeting, and members are always welcome to make an additional cash contribution toward the donation that we present to Honor Flight.

This Spring, we anticipate making that presentation at the Honor Flight Gala, to be held this year on March 28. They are always very appreciative of our continued support. This is what enables HF to carry out their mission – that of taking WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans to their respective memorials in Washington DC, at no cost to the Veteran.

We always try to have a good contingent from our chapter out to the Springfield-Branson airport, to welcome home our heroes. Being selected for participation in an Honor Flight is itself an honor, and you Chapter President is anticipating that very thing this year. The dates of scheduled flights for 2020, for those who may not yet have marked their calendars, are Wednesday May 13, Tuesday August 25, and Wednesday October 28. Those veterans and volunteer staff that are on the flight on a given day, need to be present at the airport at 0300. For them, it is a VERY long day.

For those of us who want to be in attendance to welcome them home, and enjoy the party at the airport in the evening, should plan to arrive between 8pm and 8:30. The flight usually arrives back around 9pm. For each of the flights in 2019, the welcoming party was around 3200 to nearly 4000 people each time! Let’s just say, there is still room at the airport for more!
As highlighted in our March issure of our Newsletter by Frank Bridges, our legislative chair, MOAA National has a number of priorities for this year. These are things that should concern us all as veterans. It is through maintaining a strong military, that we continue to assure our peace and freedom in this country. In order to continue to have a strong military, we need to protect service benefits, so that our young men and women who serve, can focus on the mission, knowing that their needs, as well as those of family at home, are being cared for in the best manner possible. I, along with Frank Bridges, would encourage everyone to heed all Calls To Action. It only takes a few moments to send an electronic message to your Senators and Representatives. MOAA has a suggested message for each subject, but you are more than welcome to alter that message before it is sent, to reflect your own personal wishes.
Continue to “talk up” OEMOAA. We are always looking for new members, to continue to expand our reach into our local community.

Chuck Guy, President