Arizona Chapter Highlights

Tucson Chapter

Col Wojciechowski, Tucson MOAA Chapter President, presents scholarship to Air Force cadet Peter Oberding from University of Arizona. Watching is the AFROTC Detachment Commander Col Carey Jones

Coronado Chapter 2021 Veterans Day Parade

MOAA Tucson had Tucson Girls’ Choir (Hummingbirds) perform at our Christmas dinner meeting.

Coronado Chapter

Matthew C. Cofer received the MOAA DISTINGUISHED HONOR GRADUATE AWARD upon completion of the Military Intelligence Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Huachuca, Arizona from Colonel (Retired) Bob Covalucci.

Frank Liebsch, President, Sierra Vista Veterans Memorial Improvement Foundation, receives a check for $2,000 from Chapter Past President Tom Day and President Jim Clenney. The money supports SVVMIF in honoring our military and veterans.

Northern Arizona Chapter

Green Valley Chapter

Left to right: Elliot Jones, President MOAAGV Chapter; Col. Steve Sansford, USMC (Ret), President, QC Semper Fi Club; CWO3 Robert Lewis, USA (Ret) Toys for Tots Coordinator

This year the Quail Creek Semper Fi Club (QCSFC) teamed with the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). Green Valley Chapter. to support the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots program. The program provides new toys to needy families with children ages 1 to 12 in the greater Tucson area. The MOAA kicked off the drive with a toy collection at their November monthly members dinner. Besides collecting toys, they also collected more than $400 in cash donations. The QCSFC placed collection boxes in the Madera Clubhouse. and the toy donations were extraordinary.

Along with the MOAA donations, more than eight large moving boxes were filled to the top with a wide variety of toys. We sincerely appreciate the generosity of  the Quail Creek residents and the MOAA members. Your donations are providing life-changing remembrances for these children.

Green Valley (Ariz.) Chapter board members, from left, Lt. Col. Darren Venters, USAF (Ret); Col. Peggy McGee, USAR (Ret); and CW3 Jack Bundy, USA (Ret), present gardening tools to Diana Kellermeyer, chief of the Southwestern Blind Rehabilitation Center. (Photo by Brenda Stockton, VA Staff)

Members of the Green Valley Chapter are supporting a new local program to assist blind veterans.

The Southwestern Blind Rehabilitation Center at Tucson VA Medical Center is teaching blind veterans gardening skills. Recreation therapist Shelley Marsh said she chose gardening because it is a hobby that so many find relaxing.

The medical center built a concrete walking path leading up to the garden and provided the land for raised beds and some fencing to protect the plants. However, tools were not in the budget. The chapter stepped in the help.

“Within two weeks of learning of the need and with the monetary help of one of our community sponsors, we delivered trowels, garden trays, hand hoes specially designed for raised beds, dribbles, pruners, seed starting trays, and gardening gloves,” said Col. Peggy McGee, USAR (Ret).

“Thanks to the long growing season for the Tucson area, these veterans now have vegetables and flowers growing in what was had been an empty space just a short time ago,” she added.

This effort is just one of many ways the chapter gives back to the local military and veterans’ community. The chapter also gives scholarships to area students; supports troops at Thanksgiving; contributes to the food locker at the 162nd Fighter Wing, Air National Guard; supports veterans and deployed troops with special items; and sponsors Honor Flights for its members.

Grand Canyon Chapter

Col (Ret) Pete Kloeber and LTC (Ret) Joyce Kloeber Laying a wreath a Captain (Ret) Don Knapp’s Grave During Wreaths Around America at the veterans Cemetery at Camp Navajo.

Dave & Elaine Savage at the Holiday Social

Juanita Gillis & Brigitte Bradley at the Holiday Social

Pam Stinson-Tattersall, Helene Theodoras and Priscilla Trowbridge enjoying the Grand Canyon’s Summer Social and Picnic.

Yuma Chapter

Yuma Chapter members Carol Houggard, Linda Matthias, & Rob Filbey delivering lap quilts for veterans residing at Haven Health Yuma; the facility’s Activities Director accepted on the veterans’ behalf due to COVID 19 visitation restrictions	Yuma Chapter member Nancy Filbey at the wheel of chapter’s 2021 Veterans Day Parade vehicle entry.
Yuma Chapters donations to Right Turn for Yuma Veterans for May including furniture, electronics, clothing and kitchenware.

Luke Chapter

Luke Chapter was able to provide grants to needy Veterans

Luke Chapter members at Luke AFB collecting Items for “Turkey For Troops”

Scholarship Winners at Luke MOAA Chapter Membership meeting

Linda Wolverton and Rosemary Eaton direct the Luke Chapter revitalized Surviving Spouse program working hard to provide support, friendship, encouragement, education, grief-sharing and benefit guidance to surviving spouses. Their new program includes a vastly improved listing of resources and benefits including casualty information for the surviving spouse program. Linda and Rosemary contact each SSp each month and check on their welfare. Two of their “star” SSp’s are both 99 years young!

Arizona Chapter

Navy/Air Force Game at Famous 48 (Sports Bar) in Scottsdale

Cowboy Trio including our member, Bruce Kosaveach, at October Picnic

Ron Perkins Receives first “Chinese Auction” prize at Chapter Christmas Party

Catalina Mountain Chapter

Officers being installed. Catalina Mountains Satellite Chapter officers:left to right: Chuck Vaughan, CAPT, USN, retired; Kurt McMillen, COL, USA, retired; David Bull, LTJG, USN, former; Bill Myers, LT, CEC, USN, former; George Bone, LTC, USA, retired, Bill Wojciechowski, COL, USAF, retired, Pete Kloeber. I’m the new president, Kurt is 1st VP, David is 2nd VP and membership chairman, Bill M is secretary, George is treasurer, Bill W is president of the Tucson Chapter. Installation at Saddlebrooke Mountain View Club on 15 Jan 2022.

Bill Nagy, COL, USA, retired; Deborah McGeehan, LTC, USA, retired, and David Bull, LTJG, USN, former, at the Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Marana on 18 Dec 2021 to place wreaths on graves as part of Wreaths Across Amercia.

Bill Wojciechowski, COL, USAF, retired, president of the Tucson Chapter, presenting an award to Bill Nagy, COL, USA, retired, February 2021Bill Wojciechowski & Bill Nagy

Chapter placing Wreaths at Marana Veterans Cemetery

Soldier’s Best Friends.  Bill Nagy, COL, USA, retired (President, Catalina Mountains Satellite Chapter) presenting a certificate of appreciation to Tim Harris, Development Manager of Soldier’s Best Friend, who spoke to the Catalina Mountains Satellite Chapter about the work Soldier’s Best Friend does. On the right is Daniel (last name unknown), a vet shown with his service dog being trained by Solder’s Best Friend.  17 December 2021 Catalina Mountains Satellite Chapter luncheon at Saddlebrooke Mountain View Club.