High Country Chapter MOAA

Eight crew members were recently killed in a B-52 bomber crash at Edwards Air Force Base. Our prayers are with the families and communities of Col. Gregory Watson, Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, Retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, Maj. Alexander Davis, Maj. Robert Dee, Maj. Brad Hovey, Jeromy Smith, and Christopher Rischar, who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country. Join MOAA in recognition of their service and read more in the comments.

🇺🇸 Cool things are happening in Norfolk this weekend...
U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Coast Guard East

⚓️ BIG NEWS FOR NORFOLK! ⚓️

America’s 250th anniversary celebrations are kicking off, and the U.S. Coast Guard is ready to welcome over 60 massive tall ships and military vessels from 20 nations for Sail250 Virginia! 🇺🇸✨

Are you heading down to the Norfolk waterfront June 19-23? If so, tour "America’s Tall Ship" For FREE!

The spectacular 295-foot Coast Guard Cutter Eagle is leading the Parade of Sail on Friday and opening its decks to the public.

Tour Hours:
🗓 Friday, June 19: 3 PM – 5 PM
🗓 Saturday, June 20: 12 PM – 7 PM
🗓 Sunday, June 21: 12 PM – 7 PM
🗓 Monday, June 22: 12 PM – 5 PM

(⚠️ Heads up: You’ll need a photo ID to board, and be ready to climb some stairs for the tour!)

🚤 Will you be out on the water? Stay safe!

With a massive influx of spectators and boats, Coast Guard crews will be out patrolling.

Remember to:
- Keep a safe distance from the historic tall ships.
- Monitor VHF-FM Channel 16 for safety updates.
- Double-check that you have life jackets and working communication gear for everyone on board.

We hope to see you there!

Members... Check your inbox for the latest edition of our newsletter.📰

“The U.S. government has never officially recognized Honduras as a combat zone by issuance of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or a campaign badge," Rutherford told Military.com. "Therefore, all who served are not eligible for many veterans’ benefits, awards and entitlements which only combat or war veterans are entitled to."
Military.com

https://www.military.com/300000-veterans-still-cant-access-some-benefits-because-their-war-was-never-recognized

300,000 Veterans Still Can't Access Some Benefits Because Their War Was Never Recognized Several states support change for combat soldiers at the federal level.

🥰 Grateful for all who joined us to honor, reflect, and remember on Memorial Day.🇺🇸

We honor them today... and every day.

https://youtu.be/7y-iS0ehyDQ?si=4uVnNAkaRJ1sJQMk
U.S. Army

This Memorial Day, we honor them. This Memorial Day, we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Their legacy is etched in the 250 years of American freedom they defended. We remember the...

🌺 Red Poppies 🌺

Remembrance... of fallen soldiers. The flowers were the first to bloom across the war-torn battlefields of Flanders, Belgium in World War I.

Sacrifice... The vibrant red color signifies the bloodshed and sacrifice of military personnel who lost their lives protecting their countries.

Resilience... Poppy seeds can lie dormant for years but will thrive when tended to and exposed to sunlight. The flower represents hope and the endurance of the human spirit in the face of tragedy.

“We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.” – James A. Garfield, May 30, 1868, Arlington National Cemetery

https://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/memorial-day/history/

Unfortunately our flag placement event scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday) has been canceled due to weather.🌧️ We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

🇺🇸 Please join us at the Boone Mall on Monday for our annual Memorial Day Ceremony.

We're proud to partner with Blood Sweat and Gears each year.🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️

We’re incredibly grateful for the continued support of High Country Chapter MOAA as they once again partner with Blood Sweat Gears this year! 🇺🇸

The High Country Chapter is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization made up of current, former, and retired military officers and surviving spouses dedicated to supporting veterans, military families, and the local community.

Their team helps make BSG possible by sponsoring veteran meals and volunteering during packet pickup — and we truly couldn’t do it without them. Thank you for continuing to serve our community and our veterans with such generosity and dedication. ❤️💙

Be sure to learn more about the chapter and their work here:
HCCMOAA.org