MOASWF President, Jeff Cahoon, supported the Florida Council of Chapters (FCoC) at the Florida National Guard Convention in Kissimmee on 29 June. The Council sponsored an information and recruiting table where we talked with over 100 MOAA eligible National Guard Officers and Warrant Officers. We signed up many on the spot as MOAA Basic Members and provided them with information on our network of Chapters in Florida.
Each year, MOASWF presents an awards banquet to honor one deserving rising senior Army JROTC Cadet from each Collier County High School. The 2024 Banquet was held on 10 May at Glen Eagle Golf and Country Club, who did a fabulous job of hosting the event. MOASWF members, the honored Cadets, their parents, and the Army instructors from each of the eight Collier County programs are invited to attend. At a separate ceremony at each high school, each honored Cadet had received a MOAA Certificate and medal in recognition of their accomplishments. Hearing the Senior Army Instructors talk about the character and accomplishments of their respective honored Cadets was both impressive and uplifting. Congratulations to those honored Cadets!
During the President’s Reception at the Florida Council of Chapters (FCOC) Annual Convention in Daytona Beach Shores on 13 May, MOASWF was presented a MOAA 5-STAR Levels of Excellence Award for CY2023. The 5-STAR LOE is MOAA’s most prestigious affiliate award, honoring councils and chapters for their efforts across the full scope of the association’s mission. Pictured (l-r) are Gen. Gary North (MOAA Chairman), Maj. Jeff Cahoon (MOASWF President), Col. Gary Nolan (Southwest Area VP) and Cmdr. Pat Kluever (FCOC President)
The 56th Military Ball took place on February 17 and was held at the Naples Hilton.
The theme was “Honoring the Last of the Greatest Generation. Dancing was provided by The Uptown Express Group.
The Menu was Barolo Braised Beef Short Ribs, Herb Roasted Salmon, Garlic Yukon Mashed Potatoes, Sauteed Green Beans and a Salad.
Quite a number of MOASWF Members participated in events in Southwest Florida over Veterans Day weekend, either representing our Chapter or as part other organizations that honor veterans. One such event was held at Valencia Trails 55+ community in Naples, their first such event. Jeff Cahoon, MOASWF President, spoke at this event attended by Valencia Trails residents who were veterans of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force. Some World War 2 uniform items were on display courtesy of America’s Military and 1st Responders Museum in Naples. Another event attended by veterans, including several MOASWF members, was held at Manatee Elementary School. This event to honor local veterans included the posting of service flags, readings, and patriotic songs, all accomplished in an outstanding manner by the students themselves! Fabulous event! Do yourself and a favor and attend this event in 2024!
Thomas Tellier is a military veteran living in Southwest Florida, having served as a U. S. Army medic from 1984 to 1988. Tom needed significant dental work but had no dental insurance and was unable to afford the dental fees on his own.
Enter MOASWF. Earlier this year, our Chapter applied for a grant through the MOAA Community Outreach Grant program. The grant application described a new partnership between MOASWF and the Wounded Veterans Relief Fund (WVRF) and was approved for $1,500. WVRF is headquartered on the east coast of Florida and was seeking to expand its dental assistance program to other areas of Florida, including Southwest Florida.
Now, through the joint efforts of MOASWF and WVRF, Tom is receiving the dental care he desperately needed, right here in Southwest Florida. The Page Family Dental Group in Naples is providing this dental care to Tom at a significant fee discount, covered in full through funding from WVRF and the $1,500 grant secured by MOASWF. Our Chapter is proud of its partnership with WVRF (Board Member ADM Jerry Johnson is also a member of the WVRF Advisory Board) and is proud to provide such vital support to a Southwest Florida veteran.
A Board member from our MOASWF Chapter routinely attends the monthly meeting of the Collier County Veterans Council. At the 20 August meeting, County Commissioner Burt Saunders presented an update on progress toward Collier County’s planned veterans’ nursing home. The nursing home will be located on the northeast corner of the 165-acre golf course at Golden Gate Parkway and Collier Boulevard. Commissioner Saunders reported that Collier County approved setting aside $10 million for the construction of additional square footage to provide adult day care and outpatient therapy. This money would come from the 1-cent sales surtax approved by voters in the 2018 for a variety of projects. The local money would be contingent upon the Florida State Legislature earmarking $10 million in the 2024 session. The County earlier pledged $30 million for the project. Commissioner Saunders said County leaders want this nursing home to be a showcase for veterans’ nursing homes of the future. The approval for the project from the federal VA should come in 2025 and design work would take one year throughout 2026. Construction should take up to 18 months, putting completion in 2027 or 2028. Collier County is home to roughly 23,000 veterans.
The 2023 JROTC Awards Banquet presented by MOASWF was held on 12 May at Glen Eagle Golf and Country Club.
The banquet honors JROTC cadets who are rising seniors in Collier County high schools and who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and performance in their respective high school JROTC programs.
Pictured here (L-R) are COL Ian Falk, Cadet Leland Von Holle, Cadet Mary Benson, COL Michael Shoen, Cadet Aramis Rivera, and MAJ John Sarnecky.
Collier-Lee Honor Flight Mission 23 will take off from Southwest Florida International for Washington, D.C. on Saturday, 29 April.
On board will be southwest Florida veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. They will visit the Iwo Jima Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Also on board will be seven Collier County JROTC Cadets sponsored by MOASWF to serve as Guardians for seven of those Veterans.
Each veteran on the flight is assigned a guardian to accompany and assist him or her throughout the course of the day. Veterans and their guardians attended a Meet-and-Greet on Sunday, 23 April to receive a briefing on the mission. Pictured here are five of the seven JROTC Guardians along with Senior Army Instructor LTC Kerrye Glass and some of the veterans they are supporting during Mission 23.
Naples High School JROTC held its Awards Ceremony on 30 March 2023. It was well attended by parents and community members. LCDR Robert Perfetto, MOASWF 2d Vice President, was a presenter at the ceremony. To view photos of the ceremony, go to https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAy2y9.