Board of Directors member, Rob Altman and Operations Director, Bobby Cauhey spoke to us about The National Center for Healthy Veterans with its mission of “Returning Healthy Veterans to America.” This broad and comprehensive Healthy Veteran initiative ranges from trauma recovery using best practice, faith-based programs to career preparation which afford dignified work, skills training, and economic opportunity

After an initial introduction of the NCHV vision, mission, and its key objectives by Altman, Caughey gave some of his personal history watching the NCHV successfully grow over the past six years including its terrific bounce-back to bigger and better after a fire which had destroyed the original barn complex and loss of the two beloved therapy donkeys

Several of our attendees stated how much they were impressed with the facility and its mission success. A real possibility would be an in person visit to AltaVista, VA. where it is located.

We were delighted to have a second visit from The MOAA North Carolina Council of all Chapters President, Donna and her husband John Culp.

Our speaker Brett Eaton is Wake Forest University Vice President of Marketing & Communications and Chief Communications Officer.

He also serves as the executive director of the "Wake Will Lead" campaign, an effort to raise $1 billion in support of the university's mission.

Before transitioning to a career in higher education, Eaton held a variety of leadership positions within the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

His impactful talk and slides presented the Pentagon recovery efforts from the 9/11 terrorist attack, for which the Secretary of Defense awarded him the Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service.

Climaxing his reign as Programs Manager of four years, Jason took us through his enthralling history from law student to top star aviation officer to severally concussed victim of an automobile accident that ended that career. But not before his inspiring self recovery of speech and a pursuit all the way up to CNO, attempting to regain his seat in single pilot jet aircraft, while re-qualifying for Naval Air.

His subsequent move into academia in North Carolina was equally as impressive, but not, perhaps, as his re-enactment of his single-seater jet carrier qualifications before the accident.

Bravo Zulu, Jason.

Our new venue, Maple Chase CC, gave us an lovely evening of great service, fine buffet, cheerful staff and beautiful setting with tons of room and great audio visual equipment. Many thanks to the venue search team!!

In addition to Dena Kilgore we had the pleasure of hosting Donna Culp, President North Carolina Chapters, MOAA and her husband John. Both Ladies sat in on our Board meeting and brought suggestions and offered a number of National assistance programs for our "Continue to Serve" current and future activities.

Our newest member, Ollie Read, introduced himself with the traditional career highlights talk. How many men survived 9 hours in Admiral Rickover's closet while applying to his nuclear training program?!

Outgoing Membership Chairman, Ted Robinson's many many contributions to the growth of our Chapter over the last number of years, received a delightful surprise recognition through national MOAA's Leadership Award given by Dena Kilgore. BRAVO ZULU, Ted.

Jason Ford received a similar surprise recognition for his contributions as Programs Director with an Outstanding Service Award from Dena Kilgore. Jason holds the record for longest in this position, which included the difficult Covid Years.

Ms Davidson-Mayer introduced us to a world of some 14 million Care Giver families in the US today. As one herself, she learned of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's support program from the Veterans Administration offices after years of supporting her severally explosions damaged husband on his return from Afghanistan.

She became part of their Hidden Heroes Campaign bringing vital attention to the untold stories of military and veteran caregivers and seeking solutions for the tremendous challenges and long-term needs they face.

Her personal story had us spellbound with the enormity of the pain and anguish she, and like care givers, experience upon the return of their war damaged loved ones.

This calls upon all of us with knowledge of wounded warriors and their families to assist by pointing them in the direction of the VA and Elizabeth Dole Foundation. Hiddenheroes.org is a good starting place.

Some forty years after he last flew F-4s in the Vietnam Conflict, Charlie Tutt met and later coordinated with a Vietnamese General, who had flown MIgs against the US forces, to bring pilots from both sides together. Subsequently three reunions took place in Hanoi, San Diego, and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) with these pilots exchanging their stories of those times and how they adapted their strategies in combating each other. A bit of a David and Goliath tale, pitching highly maneuverable Migs against more powerful F-4s.

Chaplain Ferry, USA, Col (Ret), served with the New York Army National Guard as the former New York Joint Forces National Guard Command Chaplain and supervised all chaplains, chaplain candidates, and chaplain assistants of the Air and Army National Guard. Allen deployed to Bosnia/Herzegovina in 1998-1999 and Iraq in 2003 and 2005. He also served as the Task Force Chaplain for Operation Rainbow Hope-WTC in 2001.

Case studies from his experiences provided important insights into our wounded warriors, for us all.

Our speaker was Don Brown, a former U.S. Navy JAG officer and United States Senate candidate and the author of the books “Kangaroo Court: How Dirty Prosecutors and Sleazy Lawyers Destroy Political Opponents, Attack Free Speech, and Subvert the Constitution”; “Travesty of Justice: The Shocking Prosecution of Lieutenant Clint Lorance,” “The Last Fighter Pilot: The True Story of the Final Combat Mission of World War II” , and “CALL SIGN EXTORTION 17: The Shootdown of SEAL Team Six.” He is the author of 15 books on the United States Military, including three national bestsellers, and is a Publisher’s Weekly National Bestseller. He is one of four former JAG officers serving on the Lorance legal team. Lorance was pardoned by President Trump in November 2019. Brown is also a former military prosecutor, a former Special Assistant United States Attorney,

Erin's presented us with a delightful return visit. Her singing evoked the joy it brought to the soldiers when away fighting for our freedom. Her stories from a musical tour of all 50 States highlighted how luck we are in North Carolina where veterans receive so much more recognition than other States, some of which do nothing for their veterans.

President Briscoe presented Surviving Spouse Director Jackie Kohler our donation to the worthy cause Triad Honor Flight.

Other awards of recognition for their efforts on behalf of the Chapter were presented to Jerry Johnson, Greg Chase and Tom Denegre.

New members Devin Dell and Robert Weiss were welcomed and Gere Carter introduced his guest, Adam Horne, with hopes of his joining shortly.

2nd VP Barry Moore delivered the Members 7 minutes speech regaling us of his times in the Philippines, bolo knives and" 52 pairs".

Past President Dennis Lennon reminded membership of its commitment to, and the importance of volunteering for the boards and committees that make our Chapter a Five Star Awardee. Incidentally, he won the 50/50 raffle.

Our 2nd VP took us through a riveting presentation on his experiences participating in Operation Restore Help - Somalia 1992-93.

Most remarkable where his slides of the starvation and utter devastation in Somalia then, and to this day, brought upon the citizens by roving militant gangs who stole from all and cared for none.

In a first for the Chapter, Surviving Spouse Director, Jackie Kohler, presented certificates of recognition to two of our four Surviving Spouse Members, Nalyn Hipwood and Peggy Wallace.

Beth Hinesley is Community Relations Coordinator of Honor Bridge For Life. She spoke about the need and value of organ and tissue donation (the compelling needs, the myths and how it actually works). With no limit on the age of the donor, in addition to 8 organs, there are some 75 other uses of tissues that can be used.

Registration as a donor can be done through the state or at a national registration service.

In North Carolina, over 3,000 people are currently waiting for organ transplants, and nationally, over 100,000 people are on the organ waiting list.

At the beginning of our after dinner program, Mrs Ann Zuhr graciously presented our Vietnam War Veterans recognition Certificates and Lapel Pins from The Daughters of the American Revolution for their service in the Vietnam War era

CDR. Hagensted with his charming wife Sloane, together,enlightened what must have been one of our most energized dinner events. Valentine decorations provided by Jackie Kohler truly lit up the room.

"Hog" walked us through the past and current pathways through "Top Gun", Navy Fighter Weapons School. In his career he totaled 2000 hours in F/A-18s, 400 carrier landings and 40 combat missions over Iraq.

He regaled us with tales from the filming of the two Top Gun movies. Tom Cruise was true to his reputation,i.e. filmed as the pilot while flying in the back seat of a F-18 flown by a Navy Blue Angels pilot 50 FEET OFF THE DECK AT 600 KNOTS!!

No doubt many of us went straight home to re-run the movie with new eyes.

This was one of the most powerful presentations our Chapter has ever experienced!!

Captain Poole served two tours in Vietnam, 1969-1971, with ever increasing adimistrative responsibilities and hands on coping with the wounded coming in from battle.

This quiet spoken lady took us thru the emotional roller coaster of her experiences including: laying alongside and praying with a dying man, spending an entire night transfusing another so he did not bleed to death before a doctor would attend. As much as 30years later she would receive calls of thanks from men she saved in the field.

She is one of 10000 women who served in Vietnam, but who were refused VA assistance when they returned with PTSD because "no women served in Vietnam".