Military Officer - July 2006 - (Page 52) Paul W. Arcari Award, named after MOAA’s former director of Government Relations and given to congressional staff members who provide great assistance in support of servicemembers. The evening of recognition then ended with individual audience members congratulating the recipients while a musical group played patriotic music. It was a fitting way to walk out the door, making attendees a little more proud to be Americans and associated with the MOAA family. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) Award: Marix Award Recognized for: Senate leadership in winning TRICARE Nelson said, “You have given me the privilege of serving our country here on Capitol Hill at this time when we have quite a few important issues on our plates, and there is not a more important issue [than] taking care of widows and orphans.” Nelson recalled that President Lincoln said, “It is our obligation as a country to take care of the widows and the orphans of war.” He added, “So what I have tried to remind our senators is that as we provide for the cost of war, be it equipment, ammunition, or new technology, that we also ought to provide for the widows and orphans as a cost of war.” Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) Award: Marix Award Recognized for: Sponsoring an amendment to the Defense coverage for drilling National Guard and Reserve members and families, improved pay raises, and increased force levels. Graham, who could not attend the ceremony but later accepted his award in his office from MOAA President Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret., said taking an active role advocating for those in uniform who have served and who are still serving is one of the highest callings of any American. He said the association’s involvement in policies regarding retirees and active duty personnel comes at a time when America needs more citizen input and more advocates for those who are serving and have served. The challenges of today’s military and the budgets regarding our military personnel are enormous, he said, and we will not be able to meet those challenges without people having input who know what they are talking about. And MOAA knows what it’s talking about, Graham said. Authorization Bill to extend TRICARE coverage to all drilling Guard and Reserve members and their families. After receiving his award, Taylor said, “For our nation to say that there is one force, except when it comes to health care — no. If we are one force, there’s one health care system for everyone.” Taylor is an ardent health care advocate whose early work on health care issues helped win TRICARE For Life. Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa) Award: Marix Award Recognized for: Being the original House sponsor of a bill to provide permanent TRICARE coverage and upgrade the retirement system for all drilling Guard and Reserve members. Latham said the troops in Iraq told him, “ ‘If you can do anything to help us and honor our service, help our families back home.’ In the Midwest, and in a state like Iowa, and the families that serve in the Guard and Re- Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) Award: Marix Award Recognized for: Leadership spearheading legislation to correct significant Survivor Benefit Plan inequities affecting both survivors and older retirees. 54 MILITARY OFFICER J U LY 2 0 0 6
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