Military Officer - January 2006 - (Page 50)

chapteractivities buried at the Punchbowl who served so valiantly in the Paciﬁc. “I know of no place other than the Punchbowl that combines natural beauty, patriotism, and inspiration,” Buchert said. “I think they should commission ofﬁcers here. A life of military service often is demanding, and sometimes it requires you to pay the ultimate price.” Col. Gene Castagnetti, USMC-Ret., director of the Punchbowl, also participated in the ceremony along with an all-service color guard, a ﬁring squad, and a Navy chaplain. The evening before the dedication ceremony, members from all four chapters gathered at the 100th Infantry Veterans Hall for a joint dinner meeting. Members of the Aloha Chapter hosted the event. important contributions Americans make through their volunteer service. In June, Rep. Michael Bilirakis (R-Fla.) commended chapter members’ volunteer efforts through Operation Helping Hand on the ﬂoor of the House. Bilirakis’ remarks are now part of the Congressional Record. Although Silah and members of the Tampa Chapter have garnered a lot of recognition in recent months, they’ve never lost sight of why they started Operation Helping Hand. Since the war on terrorism began, the number of servicemembers needing treatment at James A. Haley’s comprehensive rehabilitation unit and spinal cord injury center has increased. These servicemembers’ families, who live throughout the United States, often spend six or seven weeks in the Tampa area while their loved one is being treated. During this difﬁcult time, they must provide for themselves. Members of the Tampa Chapter started Operation Helping Hand in May 2004 to help alleviate the emotional and ﬁnancial burdens faced by the military families in this situation. Silah agreed to chair Operation Helping Hand and is assisted by several other chapter members, including Lt. Col. Bob Sawallesh, USA-Ret., vice chair; and Lt. Cmdr. David Lefavor, USN-Ret., chaplain at the Tampa VA Medical Center. The project also has received support from business and community leaders who hold positions on Operation Helping Hand’s advisory board. Having a broad base of support has helped chapter members collect more than $60,000 in cash donations and hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise, from prepaid cell phones and phone cards to food coupons and gift certiﬁcates. These 2006 Key Events ■ March 1 Communications Award submissions due (see Appendix J of the Council and Chapter Policies and Procedures Guide) ■ March 27-28 MOAA board of directors meeting, Alexandria, Va. ■ March 29-31 Council Presidents’ Seminar, Alexandria, Va. ■ May 2 MOAA Career Fair, Washington, D.C. ■ June 1 Chapter Levels of Excellence Award submissions due (see Appendix J of the Council and Chapter Policies and Procedures Guide) ■ July 17-18 MOAA board of directors meeting, Alexandria, Va. ■ Sept. 28-30 Chapter Presidents’ Symposium, Savannah, Ga. ■ Nov. 16-18 MOAA board of directors meeting and annual meeting, Washington, D.C. Tampa Garners Presidential Honor T he Tampa (Fla.) Chapter has received more well-deserved recognition for the volunteer work its members are doing through Operation Helping Hand, a community service project started by chapter members to assist the families of seriously wounded and injured personnel who are being treated at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa. Recently, both the chapter and its president, Capt. Bob Silah, USN-Ret., received the President’s Volunteer Service Award. The award is given by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation to honor the ON THE WEB ■ Want to join an MOAA chapter items ﬁll welcome baskets that are given to servicemembers’ families when they arrive in Tampa. In addition, Operation Helping Hand has received donations from many other MOAA chapters, including the Sun City (Fla.) Chapter, whose members recently donated $1,500. “The support we’ve received has been tremendous,” said Silah, who has promoted Operation Helping Hand on several local radio and TV shows during the past year. “We’re very fortunate.” For more information on Operation Helping Hand or to donate, visit the Tampa Chapter’s Web site at www.moaatampa.com. MO — Contributors are Col. Chris Giaimo, USAF-Ret., director; Col. Jim Pauls, USAF-Ret., deputy director, Council and Chapter Affairs; and Kris Ann Hegle. For submission information, see page 19. but don’t know where to find one? Go to www.moaa.org/chapters/locator.asp to find the chapter nearest you. 50 MILITARY OFFICER JANUARY 2006 http://www.moaatampa.com http://www.moaa.org/chapters/locator.asp

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - January 2006

Contents Features Departments From the Editor Chairman's Page Board of Directors Nominations Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Member Books Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: On the Edge Storm Stories Our Brilliant, Bloody Future eXtreme Seniors Pages of History Information Exchange MOAA Scholarship Donors Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps MOAA Member Services Encore

Military Officer - January 2006

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