moaa feb 2020 - moaafl.org · “the least of these my brethren,” to use the words of jesus. i...
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The LanternPalm Beach-Martin Counties Chapter
Military Officers Association of Americawww.moaafl.org/chapters/PBMCC
February 2020 IssueThis month I want to emphasize several points made in an article that appeared recently in the MOAA National Newsletter. To read the article, click here.
As a retired reservist, I am in full agreement with Kevin Lilley
when he states, “When President Donald Trump speaks Feb. 4, he will have the opportunity to push several issues of critical importance to service members, retirees, veterans, and military family members into the national spotlight.”
I would take that statement one step further and say that the president needs to “honor” our veterans by ensuring that their health care is NOT cut to shreds by a congress that seems to be unable to hold down their own spending. Of course, my opinion is that congress should fund retirement and medical benefits for veterans at or exceeding those congress funds for itself. I think that’s only fair.
Over my fifty years or so following our governments work (or lack thereof), I have noticed that the most common place that congress looks to cut spending is in the arena of supporting those members of the military who no longer actively serve (i.e., retirees and their families). But they also look at the families of those deployed overseas who cannot take their families with them.
These two areas are easily targeted because they are “the least of these my brethren,” to use the words of Jesus.
I personally dealt with these issues while serving at Ft. Stewart, Georgia, during Operation Desert Shield/
Storm. Right after the 24th Infantry Division was shipped overseas, families of departed soldiers began flooding the doors of the Family Assistance Center
(FAC) and the Chaplains’ offices. The family members were having difficulty getting medical care and other services. Their soldiers were shipped out so quickly, some arrangements could not be made.
Then about a month later, our offices were again flooded (and continued to be flooded over the next six months) with family members who were joining their soldiers only to find out that their soldiers were sent overseas immediately following their arrival and reporting for duty. These men and women were often sequestered, put through orientation, and then sent to the “sand box” with no time or consideration of caring for their families who were on their way to meet them.
We also dealt with units and individual reservists reporting for assignment overseas through the chaplain’s offices and the FAC. These soldiers would ask, “What about my family?” We had no definitive answers for them since the army and congress had no answers either.
Four chaplains (including me) wrote an After Action Report requested by the Pentagon that stated: “The army clearly failed in its duty to care for the families of those soldiers required by contract to follow orders and report immediately to another overseas assignment without any consideration for the care of their families.”
Over the next several years I saw congress discuss but do little to solve these problems. However, with the bombing of Bagdad and our insertion into Afghanistan, congress stepped up to the plate and made significant changes to the laws by covering reservists and their families with health care and other benefits while they were on active duty status. They also added full medical benefits to retirees and their families who had qualified for full retirement at age sixty. I was one of those soldiers who benefited from that change.
Now as the war in the middle east may be winding down, congress once again wants to take another look at all that
OfficersPresident ………………..LTC Herb Sennett, USA “Beverly” 561-252-3263 [email protected]
1st Vice President ………..Open
2nd Vice President….MAJ Jacqui Morris-Hayes, USA 561-440-0852 [email protected]
Treasurer ………………….Col Tom Choate, USMC 301-661-7650 [email protected]
Secretary ………………..Col Paul Loschiavo, USMC “Jill” 561-745-1434 [email protected]
Immediate Past President..Col Paul Loschiavo, USMC “Jill” 561-745-1434 [email protected]
DirectorsNewsletter Editor ….Lt Col Albert (Skip) Barnes USAF “Carol” 561-512-5744 [email protected]
VA Hospital Liaison….Col Robert Seh, Jr, USAF “Dawn” 410-725-0810 [email protected]
JROTC ……………MAJ Jacqui Morris-Hayes, Maj, USA 561-440-0852 [email protected]
Personal Affairs ………..…CAPT Sam Hembree, USN “Dee” 561-248-3171 [email protected]
Legislative Affairs ………COL Paul Loschiavo, USMC “Jill” 561-745-1434 [email protected]
Membership ……………..LTC Marc Oliveri, USAR “Jenine” 561-753-7565 [email protected]
Programs ……………...LTC Marc Oliveri, USAR “Jenine” 561-753-7565 [email protected]
Director ………………..CAPT Rich Wennet, USN 561-385-3975 [email protected]
Communications ……….….youChairpersons:
Dinner Greeters & 50/50 …..LTC Ray Elderd, USA “Agnes” 561-351-3318 [email protected]
Ladies Lunch Coordinator & Surviving Spouse Liaison Dee Hembree, & Dorothy DeRuve
Directory Publisher …Col Paul Loschiavo
Nametags ….Ann Harshman
Here are a couple great links that will be worth your time to explore. They will take you directly to MOAA National for legislative updates and to
the Florida MOAA Council Newsletters.
Go directly to MOAA and check out the interesting legislative updates:
http://www.moaa.org
Read our Florida Council Newsletters:http://www.moaafl.org/Communique/Default.aspx
Get your MOAA News!MOAA News
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beautiful money being spent on people who have served their country in a much greater way than congress has ever been able to do except in a few cases where they served in the military.
Government now wants to “save money” by reducing medical and pharmaceutical benefits to reservists and retirees. Mr. Lilly, MOAA’s digital content manager, has reminded us that more than ever, we need to continue the pressure on the Washington, DC, elite of their duty to those who signed a contract giving the US Government total allegiance to include their lives when needed.
As members of MOAA, we belong to one of the best and most effective lobbying efforts in the world when it comes to lobbying for the care and appreciation of the US military. Write your congressional person and both senators. Urge them to continue funding benefits that help veterans both through retirement benefits and VA benefits. Tell them, “Don’t touch the funding for military veterans!”
Herb
GENERAL QUARTERS, GENERAL QUARTERS... All hands mannnnnnn... your battle stations! We are going to Palm Beach County for the annual Florida Council of Chapters Convention! We’re staying at the just renovated Palm Beach Gardens Marriott and we’re going to have some fun! It starts with either a round of golf at PGA National, the home of the Honda Classic, or a fishing trip out of Jupiter. That night, we’ll congregate for Officers Call at the Square Grouper in Jupiter. Do not wear a jacket and tie to the Square Grouper! It’s spectacularly casual, located right on the Jupiter Inlet, across from the Lighthouse! With any luck, Jimmy Buffet will pass by. (Even if he doesn’t, you’ll feel like he did.) The next day, you get to either try your hand at kayaking on the Loxahatchee River or climbing the Jupiter Lighthouse. If you go on the four-hour kayak trip, you will see some of real Florida.... not the sort of thing you see at Animal Kingdom at Disney, but r-e-a-l Florida. With any luck, you’ll see manatees and turtles, and a bunch of birds in the wild. And, yes... maybe even an alligator. If you climb the Jupiter Lighthouse, you’ll climb a lighthouse that was built during the Civil War. (Yup... there’s no air conditioning, and you need to be able to climb about 120 steps.). You’ll get a bird’s eye view of some of the most expensive real estate on the planet. The second night, we’ll be sponsoring a “Dine Around.” We’ve made reservations at eight excellent restaurants, all within five minutes of the hotel. We hope you go with people you don’t know. The idea is to have a great time, while meeting fellow officers from around the state. (See the activities sheet for a description of the restaurants.) On Saturday, Lieutenant General Atkins, the President of MOAA National, will speak at the breakfast about what’s going on in DC. Later that day, we have a very prominent jeweler who will be talking about... classy jewelry, and the First Sergeant of the Rangers during the mission now known as Black Hawk Down will describe his experiences in Somalia. Saturday night, Congressman Mike Waltz, who is a retired Army Officer and member of the House Armed Services Committee, will give us the inside scoop on what’s happening on Capitol Hill. Did I mention that he’s also a member of MOAA and is a current member of the Canaveral Chapter?
And... we’ll top off the ball with Neil Zirconia, who does Neil Diamond better than Neil Diamond. I should mention that a couple dozen members of the Palm Beach - Martin Counties chapter saw Neil Zirconia a few months ago, and had a great time. I do need to issue a warning.... the hotel is three or four minutes from The Gardens Mall. Think Bloomingdales, Michael Kors, Tiffany, Nordstrom, Saks, Apple, Louis Vuitton, Coach, Tesla. You had better make sure that you’ve paid off any balance on your credit card before going there. For those inclined to go shopping, this is like walking up to the plate in Yankee Stadium with the Red Sox on the field and a hundred thousand people watching. I am also required to mention that MOAA is not responsible for the destruction of any credit cards. The intent of the convention is to have some fun. ‘Hope you’ll join us! Thursday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday, 28-31May 2020. The weekend after Memorial Day.
Colonel Paul Loschiavo, USMCR (Ret)
Chairman, MOAA FCOC Convention 2020
P. S. This will probably be the last time that they put a Marine in charge of entertainment...
MOAA PO Box 8171
Jupiter, FL 33468-8171
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105 Barbados Dr, Jupiter, FL
Come join your MOAA
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dinner onFebruary 26th
6:00pm
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details.
$37pp
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January Dinner at La Fontana
VA Ice Cream, Pie & Bingo Social
Please come and support our veterans. It means so much to them!
Saturday,
Feb 15th
1:30 PM
Contac t Bob & Dawn Seh a t 410-725-0810 for more information and to let him know you’re coming. Volunteers are needed to make this h a p p e n a n d a r e v e r y m u c h appreciated. Show at 1:30pm for prep.
7305 N. Military Trail West Palm Beach
Ad Space AvailableSingle Issue: $10
Full Year: $75Call or email:
.LTC Herb Sennett, USA561-252-3263
Our Sponsors help publish this newsletter.Please thank them when you use their services.
Officers Call Paddy Mac’s 10971 N Military Trail, PBG
Thursday, Feb 6th 6pm
Upcoming Events:February:
Board Meeting, Farmers Table, NPB Country Club, Feb 7th, 11amOfficers Call, Paddy Mac’s, Palm Beach Gardens, Feb 6th, 5:30pmLadies Luncheon, Feb 11thVA Social, VA Hospital, Feb 15th, 1:30pmDinner, Abacoa Golf Club, Feb 26th, 6:00pm
March:
Board meeting, Tom Choate’s home, March 5th, 11:30amOfficers Call, place TBD, March 5th 5:30pmDinner or Picnic, place and date TBD
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