Arizona Chapter

Arizona Chapter sponsored “Still Serving: Military, Veterans and Families,” formerly known as “Freedom Isn’t Free,” on July 18th at the Anthem Civic Center. This annual project utilizes funding from our MOAA Foundation Community Outreach Grant, and we teamed with Youth for Troops, US Vets Phoenix, and Veterans First to support deployed troops, homeless veterans transitioning to independent living, and children of veterans who need help in preparing for another school year. The results of this year’s project generated:

  • 50 food and 25 hygiene care packages for Arizona troops deployed overseas that were identified and mailed by Youth for Troops.
  • 20 “move-in baskets” for formerly homeless veterans transitioning to independent living through US Vets caring leadership.
  • 41 backpacks filled with needed school supplies for children of veterans in need that were delivered by Veterans First in time for the beginning of the school year.

Catalina Mountains Chapter

Catalina Mountains Chapter presented new Dell laptops to four military veterans in early October 2024, residents of Esperanza En Escalante (EEE), and presented two new Dell desktop computers to EEE to upgrade the equipment used in the computer lab that is used by their residents.

The chapter applied for a MOAA Foundation grant, and a State of Arizona Department of Veterans Services grant to pay for the four laptops and two desktops. Grants were received from both organizations which paid most of the cost of the new computers.

EEE provides temporary housing to veterans who are in need of low-cost temporary housing in the Tucson, AZ area. In 2023 the Catalina Mountains Chapter obtained a MOAA Foundation grant and presented four laptops to four residents of EEE. As it did previously, the chapter asked EEE leadership to identify the four recipients for the new laptops.

Coronado Chapter

Coronado Chapter teamed with American Legion Post 52, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9972, and the Warrior Healing Center to organize and present the Labor Day Country Variety Show fundraiser for the Sierra Vista Veterans Memorial Improvement Foundation. The Foundation, committed to improving Veterans Memorial Park in Sierra Vista, anticipates adding 14 additional monuments along a walking path in the park, each depicting a military branch of service, a functional element of the military pertinent to the area, and significant elements in the history of the military. This one-day event netted over $2,000 for the Foundation and is just one of the recent events organized, hosted, or supported by the team for and by veterans. Organizing and supporting events like Buffalo Soldier Days, Relay for Life and most recently Vet Fest continues to heighten the visibility and recognition of the Coronado Chapter as an active, engaged and contributing member of the local community.

Grand Canyon Chapter

Grand Canyon Chapter has added an additional stand down to our annual support. In the last few years, we supported over 60 homeless and at-risk veterans with food bags that we purchase, assemble, and distribute at now four northern Arizona Stand Downs: the Verde Valley Stand Down (Sedona); the Sgt. Lance C. Davison, USMC, Memorial High Country Stand Down (Flagstaff);  the Twin Arrows Veterans Stand Down in memory of George Willie Sr, USMC and Navajo Code Talker; and the Matthew J. Broehm Memorial Williams Stand Down. Beyond the monetary support of our members to purchase the food for the food bags, many of our members also support their time in distributing the food bags as well as the health and wellness bags from the Disabled Veterans National Foundation. We also had a MOAA table set up at each of these events gaining two new members this year.

Green Valley Chapter

Green Valley Chapter recently awarded a scholarship to a graduating JROTC student at Sahuarita High School and three Educational Grants to deserving Veteran Students at U of A.  Cadet Kevin Reyes from Sahuarita High School received a $2,500 JROTC scholarship. He plans to study aerospace engineering at U of A. Our Vet grant recipients were each presented $1,000. Destiny Rivera served six years in the USAF as an Arabic Linguist, is now pursuing degrees in Mathematics and Arabic; Eleazar Rios served 10 years in the USN as a nuclear electrician, is now pursuing a degree in chemical engineering; and Shyla Barton served two years in the USMC in intelligence (before being medically discharged) is pursuing a master’s degree in East Asian studies and the Chinese language. All are pictured with Chapter President CW3 Jack Bundy USA (Ret), and Scholarship/ Grant Director Col Marianne Rogers Faust USAF (Ret).

Luke Chapter

Luke Chapter provided food and volunteers to Luke AFB’s annual Turkeys for Troops program for the 12th straight year. The program identifies active-duty enlisted members and their families at the base who for a various of reasons need food support during the Thanksgiving weekend. Chapter members donated over 800 packaged and canned food items and donated nearly $2,400, some of which was used to purchase an additional 200 food items. Also, the chapter donated 70 commissary gift cards totaling $2,100, which were selectively distributed along with the food items to the neediest families at the base by the 1st Sergeant’s Council. More than 200 service members and spouses, often with youngsters in tow, worked their way through the line with the provided boxes and bags, and in keeping with the program’s name, full-sized turkeys were handed out at the end of the line.

Northern Arizona Chapter

Northern Arizona Chapter (NAC) chapter members has been supportive in many veteran related activities in the Quad city area which includes Imprints of Honor (formally Veterans Heritage Project), “Healing Fields” memorial setup in Prescott Valley, and Yavapai County Veteran Stand Down hosted by U.S. VETS (providing clothing, hygiene items, and support at the event). They also make weekly visits to Alta Vista Senior Living Community, Good Samaritan Society-Prescott Valley Windsong Villas, and Granite Gate Senior Living. Chapter President Clyde Meade and wife Deborah take along their Golden Retriever, Bos’n (certified Therapy Pet), to comfort and support to those at the facilities. Bos’n serves as NAC’s unofficial ambassador attending many local veteran/community events; he was especially welcome at the most recent Veteran Stand Down.

Superstition Mountain Chapter

Superstition Mountain Chapter members participated in the Campo Verde High School JROTC POW/MIA Remembrance Ceremony. Pictured are Fred Ferguson, Medal of Honor recipient and one of the Cadets, now a Senior, that has been with the program since she was a Freshman.

During a chapter gathering at a local community center, a young chess tournament contestant that was between games stopped by and asked the group what they were doing. When it was explained that they were assembling 100+ hygiene kits for homeless veterans, he offered to help. Pictured is Chapter President Greg Moore presenting the young man a well-deserved AZCOC Challenge Coin.

Tucson Chapter

Tucson Chapter secured a MOAA Foundation Community Grant to help defer administration costs for the all-volunteer Davis-Monthan Veteran Service Officer (VSO) office. The VSO office serves on-base active duty as well as retired veterans and their dependents in securing VA disability compensation and related benefits at no cost. Davis-Monthan’s VSO John Roseberry (pictured), an accredited VSO, has secured  over 2,300 disability claims since the office was established in 2004. John also participates in  Transition Assistance Program classes for exiting personnel.

Chapter members (pictured) with the MOAA entrant to the Tucson 2024 Veterans Day Parade. To the far left is the Submarine Veterans of Tucson’s replica of the USN nuclear-powered submarine, USS Tucson, which was to be decommissioned in 2025 but will retain active-duty status for another decade.

Yuma Chapter

Yuma Chapter held its annual veteran visits at the conclusion of their Veterans Day related activities, presenting lap quilts to the 13 veterans currently residing in the four primary Yuma area nursing and rehabilitation facilities. While those conducting the visits had several very memorable conversations, they were unfortunately unable to visit with three of the veterans due to scheduled therapy appointments, doctor visits, etc. Special thanks go out to all those representing the chapter at this important event.

As has become the norm, there was a tremendous spectator turnout at this year’s Veterans Day Parade, reflecting the community’s genuine support and appreciation for all those in the uniformed services currently calling Yuma their home. The two vehicles drew a lot of attention, helping to promote a positive brand awareness for MOAA to those in attendance.