* The New River Chapter will once again support the New River Marathon in 2020. Originally planned for June, the Marathon had to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but as the need for social distancing is being slowly eliminated, the organizers of the marathon are looking ahead to the first Saturday in October.

* New River Chapter members are invited and encouraged to plan on being part of this worthwhile activity...the event sponsors always help us out with a generous donation to our Sears Scholarship program.

* We will man two watering stations along the 26.2 mile route on Railroad Grade Road and serve up water, GatorAde and hammer gel to keep the runners on pace. This is always a fun time for our members as we gather in support of the New River Marathon.

* Join us in October!

Over 20 New River Chapter members and guests gathered for an 11:00 AM breakfast social atop Mount Jefferson State Park...the gathering included a generous donation of donuts and fritters from Hole Lotta Donuts in West Jefferson, NC.

Open the downloaded file, the Certificate of Appreciation awarded to Butch Phillips, Hole Lotta Donuts.

The New River Chapter was awarded $5,000 from the MOAA's COVID-19 Emergency Relief grant to which an additional $1,200 was added from our Chapter Treasury and member donations...a total $3,100 was sent to each of the North Carolina Fisher Houses following the cancellation of our 2020 Marathon Jam but after our Chapter BOD made the decision to continue to support the Fisher House organization.

* Top photo, Ft. Bragg Operations Assistant, Michael Pringle demonstrating some of the cleaning supplies, sanitizers and PPE they are purchasing with donations such as ours. It’s all about keeping service members and their families safe at the Fisher House.

* Bottom photo, Camp LeJeune Fisher House member displaying a room that has been cleaned and prepared for a client using the COVID-19 funds that were part of the Marathon Jam program from our Chapter.

Open the calendar and read the post concerning our cancellation of plans to host a social dining out for members at the Winner's Circle restaurant in Jefferson, NC.

The New River Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) recently provided awards to two deserving Junior ROTC students at Wilkes Central High School. A certificate and a $1000 Rear Admiral Scott L. Sears, USN scholarship was awarded to Cadet Logistics Officer Nolan Simmons. The MOAA Leadership Award with medal was awarded to Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Ivette Ibarra. Due to the unforeseen complications with the COVID-19 crisis, the Chapter was unable to make the award presentations to the students at the normally hosted ceremonies at the high school. The accompanying photographs were provided by Lt. Col. Sapp for posting on the New River Chapter website and to be published in our "New River Current" quarterly newsletter.

The New River Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) recently provided awards to two deserving Junior ROTC students at Ashe County High School. A certificate and a $1000 Rear Admiral Scott L. Sears, USN scholarship was awarded to Cadet Battalion S1 Bethany Bare. The MOAA Leadership Award with medal was awarded to Caded 2LT Jernee Ashley. Due to the unforeseen complications with the COVID-19 crisis, the Chapter was unable to make the award presentations to the students at the normally hosted ceremonies at the high school. The accompanying photographs were provided for posting on the New River Chapter website and published in our "New River Current" quarterly newsletter and show ACHS JROTC Senior Instructor LTC(R) David Hollis sharing the awards with Cadets Bare and Ashley.

The New River Chapter held a regular membership meeting on October 15th at the new Ashe County Chamber of Commerce meeting site in West Jefferson, The Venue. The Chapter also welcomed MOAA's Senior Director, Council and Chapters, COL Terri Coles as guest speaker. Shown in the photograph is Chapter Chair for Personal Affairs and Surviving Spouse Liaison, Barbara Sears (left) and Chapter President, LCDR Steve Tucker, USN (Ret.) (right) enjoying some warmth with COL Coles near a fire pit on the patio area at the Hotel Tavern where the Chapter went after the meeting for dinner and drinks.

Picture courtesy of Chapter Membership Chair, CDR Mik Mikulan, USPHS (Ret.)

A final view of even more veterans having received a "healing" quilt from the Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild.

Here are even more pictures of the total eleven veterans recognized during the New River Chapter's 2019 Marathon Jam and recipients of a "healing" quilt from the Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild.

Still more...

* Open the pictures displayed (right), as well in the thumbnail photographs, to see the many veterans who were recognized and received thanks for their service by being "wrapped" in healing quilts made by members of the Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild.

More pictures of veterans being recognized...

* The New River Chapter hosted the 2019 Marathon Jam at the Ashe Arts Council Building in West Jefferson, NC on May 18, 2019.

* This years Jam, which raises money to support the Fisher Houses at Fort Bragg, NC and Camp LeJeune, NC, was a great success with several of the musicians earning the coveted title of "Iron Picker" having played for the duration of the event.

* MOAA and the Piecemakers Quilt Guild honored 11 vets representing WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the conflicts of the Middle East and the cold war. One brave enlisted Gunnery Sergeant in the USMC did 4 tours in Vietnam as a K-9 Point man on patrols into the jungles. He is highly decorated and has FOUR Purple Hearts. Two WWII vets were honored one of whom was on Iwo Jima. One Army retired Master Sergeant lady was with NORAD and played a very important role in America’s defense. Another honoree was a retired Lt. Colonel from Army and National Guard who led his local unit to national recognition as one of the most squared away National Guard units in the USA. Others honored were from the Navy and Air Force. Two other very dedicated ladies who were honored run local and national programs to help those veterans with chronic PTSD.

* Pictured (added images) are photographs taken during the day of musicians and audience attendees. Be sure and scroll over the thumbnail photographs to the right to see more pictures from the day-long event.

* The downloadable file is the article published in the May 29, 2019 Ashe Post & Times on the event.

* Thanks to all who participated, and donated, to our Chapter's Jam to support the Fisher Houses.

Click here to open a follow-on posting with pictures about veterans who received "healing" quilts from the Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild during the Marathon Jam.

* Shown in the photograph (right) as well as the thumbnails are several of the many veterans that were recognized on May 19th at the Marathon Jam and wrapped in the healing warmth of a quilt made by the Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild.

* The New River Chapter and the Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild were especially honored to make a presentation of one of the quilts to Tina Palmer (shown below right), mother of Ashe County veteran Sgt. Dillon Baldridge, who was killed in Afghanistan and whose memorial service was attended by hundreds of Ashe Countians when held in 2017.

* The third annual Marathon Jam was held on May 19, noon to midnight in the Ashe County Arts Council building.

* While pickin’ and grinnin,’ both awareness and funds were raised for military families by supporting the Fisher Houses at Camp Lejeune and Fort Bragg.

* Each of the musicians who participated for all 12 hours of the jam - noon to midnight - were rewarded with the designation "Iron Picker." They include (pictured L to R, below right) Jonathan Phipps, Henry Doss, Catalina Burns, Henry Burns, Vance Archer, Chris Binkowski and Earl Inge.

* Several times during the day-long event, time was taken to honor the service of veterans and present them with a quilt made by the Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild. Look at the thumbnails to the right to see many of the beautiful quilts that were used to wrap the veterans in it's warming support for their service and sacrifice.

* Ashe County "Thank a Vet" program goes live.

* A new program honoring vets began on May 31st...go by the Ashe County Courthouse with your DD214 to enroll and get your discount card. If you have already registered your DD214 with the Register of Deeds then you won't need to bring a copy. Just have a photo taken, get your new card and start saving!

* Click here for a list of participating businesses and check back often as new ones are being added on a regular basis.

* The New River Chapter's Board of Directors has prepared a calendar of events for our membership in 2021 beginning with a Thursday evening "Meet and Greet" to be held at the exciting new location for The Tavern (formerly the Sears store) in West Jefferson, NC @ 1730. This first gathering of our membership will be an opportunity for all to renew acquaintances and maybe even meet new people.

* In lieu of a regular gathering with a more traditional dining experience, the Chapter has reserved the use of the small dining room at the Tavern where attendees can order their own drinks from the bar - beer, wine or cocktails - and numerous delicious hors-d'oeuvres will be available on tables in the meeting space.

* Join us at 1730 on May 20th for a return to "normal" activities with the New River Chapter after a L-O-N-G absence that was necessitated by COVID-19.

* We look forward to having many of our members come out and help us to launch a "GREAT" 2021 for the New River Chapter, and remember, bring a friend or acquaintance especially if he/she is in our eligible field of participants (any veteran who is or was in one of the seven commissioned branches of the military).