Kim Jackson, Director of the Eglin Commissary and our featured speaker, receives the NWFMOA chapter coin from President Fran Hendricks.

NWFMOA member Les Matheson received the Bronze Medal of Distinction from the DAR.

Pictured below are DAR members with award winners Les Matheson and Karl Eschmann.

June NWFMOA Lunch Meeting (June 6, 2024)

Above: The NWFMOA members at the lunch gathered to celebrate the award of the 5-Star awards for 2023: the MOAA Level of Excellence award and the Marvin Harris Communications awards for the NWFMOA website and our monthly publication, The Defender.

Below: Member Steve Snow gives a presentation about his time flying Air Force One and Two while assigned to Andrews AFB.

Below: Scholarship Fund President Dave Parisot presents certificates to Larry Tashlik and Bob Gramm for their entry to the Gold Century Club.

      

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NWFMOA Officers Call (May 30, 2024)

We celebrated the second Officers Call this year at Doc’s Oyster Bar. The event was well attended by 20+ members a great time was had by all. A couple of members relayed interesting stories of their days on active duty. In the above picture are (left to right) Les Matheson, NWFMOA President Fran Hendricks, Bert Everhart and Al Stearns.

Firsts Sergeants Attend January Luncheon (January 4, 2024)

First Sergeants from Eglin, Hurlburt Field, and Duke Field attended the NWFMOA January lunch meeting. Also joining them was the President of the Commando Airman & Family Support Group. They came at the invite of the Board to meet our members and provide feedback regarding our Annual Junior Enlisted Family Commissary Gift Card program. Each base received a specified allotment of the 300 Commissary gift cards we purchased based on their base’s junior enlisted population. In addition to enjoying lunch with our members, a First Sergeant from each base and the President of the Commando Airman & Family Support Group addressed the Chapter and shared some short stories regarding the impact this program had on those it aims to help. Their words captured fully what this program means to the junior enlisted assigned to our local community.

2023 was the fourth year NWFMOA has conducted this program. In the first three years (2021, 2022, 2023), we averaged 189 gift cards purchased. In 2023, that number skyrocketed to 300 gift cards purchased. We were able to do this thanks to the $1,500 grant we received from the MOAA Foundation. We combined that grant with $6,000 we raised thanks to the generosity of our Chapter members, local residents, Destin Chamber of Commerce, Eglin AFA, American Legion Post 235, VFW Post 7674, VFW Auxiliary Post 7674, Moose Lodge 2193, Emerald Bay Golf Club, and the Emerald Coast MAC to purchase the 300 Commissary gift cards.

In the recently approved 2024 Goals and Tasks, the NWFMOA Board set 300 gift cards as a Chapter goal again for this year. Donations to the gift card program can be made year-round. I invite you to visit our website by going HERE and then clicking on the NWFMOA Community Outreach Donation Form button. There you will find a form in which a donation can be made.

A First Sergeant from each base and the President of the Commando Airman & Family Support Group addressed the Chapter and shared some short stories regarding the impact of our Junior Enlisted Family Commissary Gift Card had on those it aims to help.

American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Program

(January 7, 2024)

NWFMOA Participates in Wreaths Across America

On December 16th, our Chapter participated in the Wreaths Across America event at the Beal cemetary.  We had 7 NWFMOA members (pictured below) who participated in laying the wreaths and NWFMOA members  B/Gen Patt Maney and Dr. Ed Merkle were part of the presentation ceremonies. 

Pictured from left are Fred Westfall, Karl Eschmann, Jim Shoff, Dave Parisot, Fran Hendricks, Bob Gramm and Les Matheson.

View all the pictures of the event by clicking HERE.

NWFMOA Military Ball

On December 14th, our Chapter wound down our activities by celebrating the Christmas season at our annual Military Ball. Shown below are some of those present wearing their mess dress attire. Attendance topped 50 this year.

For additional pictures of the Ball, click HERE.

Gift Cards for Junior Enlisted Families

On December 1st, our Chapter presented more Commissary gift cards for junior enlisted families at Duke Field and the 7^th Special Forces Group (A) (see photos below). (See the November 2023 Defender issue for article and more photos.) This is the fourth consecutive year that NWFMOA has done this project to assist young military families.  Started in 2020 with  Community Outreach grants from the MOAA Foundation, donations by Chapter members, and donations by local businesses and military non-profit organizations, our Chapter has provided a total of 900 Commissary gift cards of $25 each to enlisted families of ranks E-4 and below and distributed by the First Sergeants Associations at Eglin, Hurlburt, the 7^th Special Forces Group (A), the 919SOW First Sergeants Council, and via the Commando Airman & Family Support Group at Hurlburt Field.  By partnering with these military organizations, we better assure that the neediest junior enlisted families (airmen and soldiers) in ranks E-4 and below receive the food purchase assistance provided.  The total monetary value of these Commissary gift cards is $22,500.  THANK YOU to all who have supported this worthwhile program.  We plan to do it again in 2024.

Veterans Stand Down

November was a busy month for our Chapter’s Community Outreach programs. Okaloosa County held its annual Veterans’ Stand Down on Wednesday, November 8th, at the FWB Fairgrounds. Our NWFMOA Chapter was one of 40 local organizations who provide services for Veterans with a booth at this event. In our booth, we had over 1,000 items of new clothing which we purchased via the $2,800 in grant funds we received last May from the MOAA Foundation’s Community Outreach Grant program. Our inventory of clothing items distributed to male and female Veterans consisted of 57 pairs of men’s and ladies’ jeans, 10 pairs of sport pants, 32 men’s T-shirts, 43 ladies’ shirts, 75 pairs of men’s boxer shorts, 4 jackets, 71 hoodies for men and women, 40 pairs of shower shoes, 96 sets of stocking caps & gloves, and 612 pairs of crew socks (men and women). The clothing items were primarily oriented towards the up-coming colder months. The clothing items were distributed to over fifty local Veterans.
Our NWFMOA booth was manned by members Dave Parisot, Dick Solt, Fran Hendricks, and Karl Eschmann. We sincerely thank the MOAA Foundation for providing the funds to purchase the clothing items.

Vietnam Veterans Recognition Ceremony

The NWFMOA partnered with the Daughters of the American Republic in the Vietnam Veterans Recognization Ceremony hosted at the Air Armament Museum on November 3rd.  President Fran Hendricks, 1st Vice President Karl Eschmann, Jeff Watson, Patrick Johnson and Les Matheson each spoke during the ceremony.  To view a video of the event, click HERE.

Membership Recruiting Booth

Our Chapter had an information booth at the annual Home & Boat Show at the Emerald Coast Convention Center on September 23rd and 24th.   Just another effort to get our organization in front of the local community and businesses to promote our organization and community service projects.  We were able to contact  about ten potential new members using our ‘tri-fold member recruiting folder’ Ia copy is on the NWFMOA website).  A hearty ‘thank you’ to Chapter members Fran Hendricks, Jim Shoff, Bob Gramm, Dick Solt, and Dave Parisot for giving up some of their weekend time to man the booth.  Pictures below are of Major Dave Parisot on left and Capt Jim Shoff and Brig Gen Fran Hendricks, Chapter President, on right.

NWFMOA Scholarship Awardees Receive Commissions

In May of 2023, five of our previous scholarship awardees were commissioned in three of our military services. 2nd Lt. Cole Briggs, USAF, was commissioned at the University of Notre Dame via its AFROTC program. Cole is a former graduated of Baker School and Army JROTC. 2nd Lt. Yolanda Stallworth, USAF, received her commission via the AFROTC at the University of Central Florida. She graduated from Niceville H.S. and its AFJROTC program in 2019. Also, is 2nd Lt. Blayne Johnson of Niceville. He received one of our ROTC scholarships at the University of West Florida AFROTC. We also have 2LT James Webb, U.S. Army, at the University of West Florida Army ROTC program. He previously received one of our JROTC scholarships in 2019 at Crestview H.S. The Nany Nurse program gains Ensign Sarah Brown, USN, a former Navarre NJROTC scholarship recipient in 2019. Sarah received her nursing degree at Belmont University and her commission from the NROTC at Vanderbilt University. Our heartiest congratulations and best wishes for success as they pursue their military careers. They are welcome back to see us at any time.

Annual NWFMOA Scholarship Awards

Our annual Scholarship & Awards Luncheon on May 4th was very well attended with 97 people and cadets, our highest attendance ever.  We awarded eight scholarships totaling $25,500 to JROTC cadets at six of our local high schools plus one scholarship of $4,000 to a local ROTC cadet at the University of South Florida.  We continued a program we started last year of naming some of our scholarships to remember deceased NWFMOA Chapter members.

Fort Walton Beach Memorial Day Service

The morning started early at 7:00AM in the morning when 35 JROTC cadets from Fort Walton Beach High School approached the gravesites of 1,800 military Veterans, hand saluted and placed a United States flag at their headstones. By 9:00AM, over 1,800 graves had been decorated. Per JROTC instructor Mark Batcho, Col., USAF, Ret., this is one of their annual events with the most cadets participating. The JROTC also provided the color Guard for the service to present the Colors.  Several of our members participated in the service. Lt Col Frank Roberts recited the poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McRae after the National Anthem. Chapter members T. Patt Maney, BG, USAR, Ret., and Chuck Merkel, Jr., Major, USA, Ret., helped read the ‘Roll Call of the Deceased’ which included about a dozen of our Chapter members. (see photos below).

NWFMOA Receives MOAA Foundation Grants for 6th Consecutive Year

On May 12th we were notified by the MOAA Foundation that we received two Community Outreach Grants this year, our sixth consecutive year our Chapter has received grants. The first grant of $1,500 is for a continuation of one of our Community Outreach projects from the most previous three years, i.e., to purchase commissary gift cards for young enlisted families (E-4 and below) at our local bases. The second grant, for $2,800, is to participate in the 2023 Veterans Stand Down this fall by purchasing cold weather clothing and toiletry items for needy Veterans in our area.

This will be our fourth consecutive year of purchasing Commissary gift cards in $25 denominations to distribute to local junior enlisted families. We plan to again partner with the First Sergeants Associations at Eglin, Hurlburt, and the 7th Special forces Group(A) and the Hurlburt Military Family Assistance Center to get the gift cards to those in greatest need. In our Community Outreach projects for 2020, 2021, and 2022, we distributed a total of 610 gift cards at a combined value of $15,250. Of this total, the MOAA Foundation provided $11,325 and $3,925 was from local donations.

Military Family Appreciation Day

The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce hosted the Military Family Appreciation Day at the Fort Walton Beach Landing Park on Saturday, April 15th from 11:00AM to 5:00PM. Chapter members who staffed our NWFMOA booth on the first shift were (from left) Bob Gramm, Dave Parisot, Fred Westfall.

Below are those at our booth for the second shift. From left are Jim Shoff, George Hanks, Fran Hendricks, Dick Solt. The third shift was rained out. We thank you for sharing your weekend time for the benefit of our Chapter and local community.

Valentines for Vets

A new community event for 2023 was “Valentines for Vets”. For nearly 65 years, the Northwest Florida Military Officers Association (NWFMOA), an affiliate of the Military Officer Association of America, has been making a difference in the lives of Veterans in the Okaloosa and Walton Counties. One of its community outreach initiatives this year was to partner Bob Hope Village with Longwood Elementary School, whereby second grade students made Valentines and delivered them to the residents on Valentine’s Day. This endeavor allowed the students to express their appreciation for the service and sacrifices made by this Veteran community and their families through the gift of a handmade Valentine. The students presented their Valentines to the residents during the annual Valentine Day Brunch at Bob Hope Village.

Valentines for Vets was first enacted in 1996 by General Ron Fogleman, Air Force Chief of Staff, and was intended to support the Department of Veteran Affairs weeklong National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans. Today, the VA has expanded the salute to the entire month of February and has renamed it, National Salute to Veteran Patients Month.

The NWFMOA invites everyone to recognize a Veteran’s service and sacrifice especially on Valentine’s Day. To view additional pictures, click HERE. This program was coordinated by our Chapter President, Fran Hendricks.

More pictures from Valentines for Vets can be seen HERE.

Chamber of Commerce "Business After Hours"

On January 19th our Chapter had an information booth at the “Business After Hours” event of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, held at the Emerald Coast Science Center. At the booth, our displays highlighted Chapter membership, our Community Outreach programs, and our Scholarship programs. At the table are Fred Westfall and Dave Parisot.