Chapter Highlights-old

Arizona Chapter

The chapter’s April luncheon meeting featured $2500 scholarship awards being presented to three ROTC cadets/midshipmen enrolled in their respective service programs at Arizona State University. The 2026 recipients were:

Army – CDT Gabriel Luhman

Navy – MIDN Evan Donnelly

Air Force – CDT Ezekiel Spann

Command representatives attending from their respective ROTC units were SFC Nicholas Wilson, USA; CAPT Kati Hill, USN; and Lt Col Gaven Hagens, USAF. The chapter’s scholarship program is intended to help ROTC students with the cost of their education so that they can be commissioned into the U.S. Armed Forces. The Scholarship Luncheon gives chapter members a chance to see where the money they donated to the Scholarship Fund is going and to hear from the recipients about their plans for military service.

On 8 July, the chapter again partnered with three veteran supporting area non-profit organizations – Youth for Troops, US Vets-Phoenix, and Veterans First, Ltd. For their annual MOAA Foundation Outreach Grant Program.

Seven chapter members along with members of the aforementioned organizations gathered at the Youth for Troops facility in Anthem to prepare this year’s donations packages—all together generating:

25 backpacks with school supplies and personal notes for the named recipients
50 food packages for troops deployed overseas
25 hygiene packs for troops deployed overseas
15 “move-in packs” for homeless veterans transitioning to independent living
115 veteran families directly impacted

Catalina Mountains Chapter

The chapter’s March 2026 luncheon speaker was Dr. Connie Mariano a retired Navy Admiral and former White House doctor to three past presidents (serving nine years in the position). She was an amazing speaker with quite a sense of humor. Dr. Connie started her presentation with her life as a Navy dependent child born in the Philippines, to being the first Filipino American in U.S. history to become a Navy Rear Admiral, to becoming the first woman to be appointed as a White House Physician and describing her overall 44 years as a physician. Her life was filled with many achievements: High school valedictorian, graduate with honors at the University of California at San Diego, a medical degree from the Uniformed Services University’s School of Medicine and a distinguished 24-year career in the U.S. Navy. More on Dr. Connie’s life and achievements, can be found in her book The White House Doctor.

The Oct chapter luncheon’s speaker was COL Tim Tarris USAF (Ret). Tim talked about his 2024 “Centennial Flight” commemorating the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Army Air Service’s first world circumnavigation (accomplished over the course of six months back in 1924). Tim and a younger aviator companion tried to duplicate the event (but in a more current aircraft and 100 years later, of course).

Their extensive planning worked well until they got to Peru where they met a bureaucratic roadblock. The pair did have State Department approval and official consent from all countries enroute, but officials in Peru “changed their mind” after the flight started. As Tim said, “The situation was very frustrating and very expensive”. Tim and his copilot were sadly unable to complete the circumnavigation but despite the adventure’s ending, those in attendance were totally captivated by this firsthand account of the excitement and frustration of their trip.

Coronado Chapter

In what is rapidly becoming a local tradition in Sierra Vista, the chapter’s annual Army/ Navy game watch party at Doc’s Watering Hole was another resounding success. The chapter brought in just over $3,000 in support of our scholarship fund in addition to the $12,000 already on hand. As a result of the generosity and support of the local community the Chapter continues to assist numerous high school students to continue their academic careers.

This quarter the chapter awarded 12 scholarships to graduating seniors from Douglas, Bisbee, Buena and Tombstone high schools. The awards were based on performance in the classroom, achievements on the athletic field, and involvement in charitable and volunteer organizations in the community. Their stelar achievements and contributions clearly shows they are the local area’s best and brightest.

2025 Scholarship Awardees

Bisbee High School: Naveah Serrano
Buena High School: Lena Armstrong, Addison Gulick, Andres Bonilla, Autumn Young, Malia Tom, Leonidas Johnson, and Christina Gross Buena
Douglas High School: Carolina Badilla, Jason Hurtado
Tombstone High School: McKenzie Mazzanti, and Kyla Gross

Grand Canyon Chapter

Chapter members participated in the first of five Northern Arizona Stand Downs, Camp Verde and Flagstaff. In addition to providing non-perishable food kits to homeless veterans, they manned a MOAA info table providing attendees with information on how they could use the MOAA Legislative Action Center to advocate for the protection of earned benefits.

In addition to their community outreach efforts, the chapter celebrated the 104th birthday of their oldest member, Lt Col Ollie Cole, USAF (Ret), a WWII veteran with 50 combat missions in the B-17 who then went on to a distinguished Air Force career flying the B-52, C-141 along with numerous other aircraft. He is a cherished source of inspiration for the entire chapter.

The chapter enjoyed a full and meaningful Veterans Day week filled with community outreach and well-deserved honors.

The week began with co-sponsoring the Veterans Day Tailgate with the Northern Arizona University (NAU) Veteran and Military Service Center. More than 50 veterans enjoyed a free meal and tickets to the 8 Nov Military Appreciation Game. NAU President Dr. José Luis Cruz Rivera and former Navajo Nation Jonathan Nez also attended, adding to the special atmosphere. The tailgate was awarded “Tailgate of Game”!

On Monday, 10 Nov, the chapter partnered with the Flagstaff American Legion to host a Red Cross Veterans Day Blood Drive. Chapter members volunteered throughout the event, staffed a MOAA information table, and donated critical blood supplies.

That evening, chapter President Col Tom Waddell, USAF (Ret) served as a featured speaker at the NAU Veterans Day Flag Tribute. The ceremony included Native American dancers, NAU choir performances, guest speakers, and a moving outdoor Taps ceremony, streamed live on NAU TV and YouTube.

Veterans Day week highlighted the chapter’s dedication to honoring service and supporting Northern Arizona’s veteran community—living out MOAA’s proud motto: “Never Stop Serving!”

Green Valley Chapter

The chapter worked together with the Tucson Veteran’s Administration Hospital’s PTSD Program to design, develop, and produce 150 Challenge Coins to support this unique and very valuable VA Hospital program. A large donation from Lisa Larkin, Esq, one of the Green Valley Chapter’s Corporate Sponsors, made it possible for the Chapter to develop, finance, and donate these coins for the program’s use. Program Administrator, Dr. Daniel Moritz, was highly appreciative and stated these coins would greatly enhance the success of their program. The Challenge Coins will be presented to those Veterans who successfully complete the program requirements specifically designed to help PTSD victims.

Luke Chapter

The chapter’s Community Fund assisted a disabled Navy veteran living in near destitution—who was about to have her utilities shut off and lose her apartment—by paying her March rent, overdue utilities, and providing a gift card from Safeway for food support.

Additionally, they have given grants for housing support to nine veterans, several with dependent children in the home, and their food and commissary gift card support to the Luke AFB ‘Turkeys for Troops’ program reached about 115 families with children.

In total, they provided about $25,700 in financial support to veterans and active-duty members and their families this fiscal year.

The chapter partnered with the Pebble Creek Men’s Nine Hole Golf Association to provide much needed food relief to junior Airmen and their families at Luke Air Force Base.

Together they collected over 1000 non-perishable food items and cash to purchase 111 Commissary gift cards that were distributed to over 200 junior Airmen and their families on 20 Nov, just in time for Thanksgiving. These items will supplement the donated frozen turkeys collected by the annual Luke AFB First Sergeants Association’s “Turkeys for Troops” program, providing a full Thanksgiving menu to young, enlisted men and women in need.

“We have a variety of programs that benefit our Arizona military and veteran community, but ‘Turkeys for Troops’ is one of the most rewarding, knowing its immediate impact on families.” said Gene Wikle, Luke Chapter President. “We’re very proud of the positive impact that we make on the lives of real people right here in the West Valley.”

Northern Arizona Chapter

In March, the chapter supported Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Air Force ROTC cadets’ participation in the Memorial Battan Death March at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico (pictured President Steve Woods presenting check for $500 on parade field). Most recently, the chapter awarded $1000 scholarships to cadets of both Army and Air Force ROTC at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and multiple scholarships to JROTC cadets in area high schools (pictured Vice President Ray Jordan presents scholarship award at Bradshaw Mountain HS).

In Sept, Chapter President, Clyde, Meade, along with chapter members Bob Wallace, Michael McShea, and Steve Woods participated in the veteran standdown at U.S. VETS in Prescott. Despite getting rained out halfway through the event, they provided a great deal of much needed assistance to many veterans prior to the storms.

Chapter members Clyde Meade, Bob Wallace and Alex Torrance attended the 250th Marine Corps Birthday Ball, at which Bob was part of the Birthday Cake cutting ceremony.

The chapter again had the honor of participating in this year’s Veterans Day Parade (eight years in a row). It’s always rewarding to be a part of a community event that honors military service with the added benefit of promoting name recognition for MOAA.

Tucson Chapter

The chapter presented the Lieutenant Col John A. Devine Memorial ROTC Scholarship awards at their 22 April chapter luncheon/meeting. Each year, the chapter awards a $2,000 Scholarship to the outstanding cadets or midshipmen in each of the military services’ ROTC programs at the University of Arizona. Each scholarship is presented in memory of or to honor a United States Military Services veteran. The scholarships are sponsored jointly by the Tucson Chapter, its members, families, friends, and other veterans to honor the service and sacrifices of veterans, past and present.

All three 2026 Scholarships were sponsored in whole or in part by Chapter Surviving Spouses who were also in attendance. USAF ROTC: Mrs. Sherry Ford sponsored the scholarship in memory of her late husband, Col John E. Ford, III. USA ROTC: Ms. Polly Parks sponsored the scholarship in memory of her late husband, Col George Luis Cajigal. USN ROTC: Mrs. Kristi Scully sponsored the scholarship in memory of her late husband, CDR Donald G. Scully.

As part of the program, 2nd VP/Scholarship Chair Col. John Davee, USAF (Ret), gave a brief overview of the sponsor’s careers.

In April the chapter awarded $2000 scholarships to three ROTC students (Air Force, Army and Navy) at the University of Arizona. The chapter also presented three MOAA leadership awards to ROTC students. Chapter members worked with the Air Force, Army and Navy ROTC units to determine the cadets/midshipmen who could really benefit from a MOAA scholarship or leadership award.

Chapter members also participated in JROTC award ceremonies this year at Cienega, Cholla, Desert View and Flowing Wells high schools, awarding MOAA medals to four very deserving young men and women.

Yuma Chapter

Kofa High School MCJROTC held their awards ceremony on Thursday, 14 May 2026 at their MCJROTC Parade Field. Chapter members Rob Filbey, Nancy Filbey, and Jim Adler attended. Rob had the great pleasure in representing Yuma Chapter and presenting the MOAA JROTC Award and Medal to Cadet/Capt Mildreth Hernandez, a graduating senior that will be moving on to a pre-med program after graduation.

The chapter participated in the Yuma Veterans Day Parade on 11 Nov with chapter member COL Rob Filbey, USA (Ret), driving his vintage Citroën 2CV as the chapter parade vehicle. After the parade, COL Filbey volunteered to serve as the Master of Ceremonies and administer the Oath of Enlistment to new recruits scheduled to go to boot camp (This was a last-minute change to the ceremony since the active-duty officers previously scheduled were prevented from attending due to the government shutdown.). Later that week, chapter members visited local nursing homes/rehabilitation centers where they presented lap quilts to their veteran residents.