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Chaplain's Corner

Chaplain’s Corner – November 2025

Chaplain's Corner / By

The Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday season is almost upon us. For many who have lost a loved this last year it can be an emotionally hard time. Even the second holiday season can be difficult. It is my hope that the poem “Epitaph” by Merrit Malloy can be helpful. I have found it so.

Epitaph
When I die give what’s left of me away to children and old men that wait to die. Cry for your brother walking the street beside you,
And when you need me, put your arms around anyone
And give them what you need to give me.

I want to leave you something, something better than words or sounds.

Look for me in the people I’ve known or loved,
And if you cannot give me away, at least let me live on your eyes and not on your mind.

You can love me most by letting hands touch hands,
By letting bodies touch bodies, and by letting go of children that need to be free.

Love doesn’t die; People do.
So, when all that’s left of me is love … Give me away.

Chaplain’s Corner – November 2025 Read More »

MOAA CFC Board President

President’s Message – November 2025

Mail / By

November is one of the most rewarding months of the year for me. We all honor November 11th as Veterans Day, but with so many veteran events I would like to see all of November proclaimed as “Veteran’s Month” to adequately honor our veterans who gave their youth and lives in support of our great country! Please give an extra dose of gratitude this month to our veterans, especially when you come across veterans who proudly display their military caps and attire. I’m reminded that as we head into the holiday season, there are some who are vulnerable trying to cope with memories of those who are no longer here. Please reach out and give an extra “Buddy Check.” November is also National Family Caregivers Month. I would like to recognize our military caregivers who not only cared for their loved one while in military service, but who work tirelessly as we all advance in age to give an extra dose of TLC. Caregivers often do not recognize the signs that they too need extra support to cope with the daunting task that comes with caregiving. We have included an article for support and education so that you don’t burn yourself out. Caregivers are sometimes the last to seek help, but the first to need a helping hand.

I’d like to deviate from having a guest speaker at our Veterans Day luncheon on November 11th. It occurred to me that if you totaled up all the years of service our military members have, and the years our spouses have been right there with us, we will discover a camaraderie of mutual support that has kept our MOAA family going strong since 1959! I would like to give those that choose to speak the opportunity to take a few minutes and enlighten our lunch crowd about some of their significant experiences in the military or supporting our service member. With the uncertainty of our food challenged veterans that rely on SNAP, please consider bringing canned goods to our luncheon-I will make sure they get to our Orlando Soldiers Angels that feeds 200+ veterans and military on the 3rd Friday of the month at Lake Baldwin. I’m looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible on Nov 11th, and for those of you that can’t, I thank you all for getting out of your comfort zone to serve our Nation and proudly share the title of “Veteran.”

It’s that time of year again when we need to review our Board of Directors and Chapter Leadership. Like any successful organization, we need new eyes and ears to help steer us into the future to keep our Chapter alive and vibrant. Please make yourself known at the November and December Chapter events so we can put your name forward to fill Chapter positions of leadership.
Cheers, Lorraine

President’s Message – November 2025 Read More »

Surviving Spouse Pat Green

Surviving Spouse Corner – October 2025

Mail / By

Protect your Health and Wealth: Long Term Care Considerations for Spouses and Surviving Spouses

Suppose you might suffer a debilitating accident or a devastating stroke (these affect both young and old) and you are unable to care for yourself, temporarily or permanently. You may think “How would I handle that”? First, with God’s grace and family involvement; second with pre-planning. Consider the information that follows.

  • Long Term Care can be expensive and location dependent. The USA average in year 2024 was:
    • In-home care $30-$40 per hour,
    • Assisted living $4,000 to $6,000 per month, and
    • Nursing home care close to $100,000 per year.

Most likely these will be higher for 2025. This is not petty cash. Outlays, such as these, require careful planning.
Fortunately, there are some ways to handle these expenses. Start early if you can.
Ways to Pay
Insurance products

A Long Term Care insurance policy may cover home care, adult day care, assisted living, and nursing facilities. Your age, health metrics, and amount of coverage desired establish the premium base. Both the premium and the coverage can have inflation increments built in. These premiums are much more affordable in the mid-40’s or 50’s ages.

Hybrid Life Insurance with a long term care rider may be purchased. The policy accelerates the death benefit as you use it. The any remaining policy value passes to beneficiaries as a death benefit.

Self -funding

An annuity you own may offer a long term care payout, or a guaranteed income stream that can be applied to health costs.
Use your personal savings, investment accounts, or retirement accounts to pay for care.

Convert your homestead and/or vacation home to a rental to create an income stream. These are emotional decisions. BUT, your home or vacation home may no longer be suitable for the new reality of your living needs. Use a professional to establish the lease, price, and conditions. It may be possible to preserve that family reunion tradition by carving out that time frame from the leases. Review any income tax complications this action may pose.

Reverse Mortgages are a possibility for those over 62. These convert your home equity into tax free income which you can use to pay for care. These products are extremely complicated depending on your long term housing needs and financial situation. Ask a lot of questions.

Your assets are your tools to finance your new life situation. Most state and federal programs require you to spend them down before you use their aid. Please seek the advice of your family, a financial planner, or trusted advisor before you act.

Safety nets

Medicaid is a federal government program administered by the states. It covers long term care for those with limited income and assets. States have their unique guidelines but most require a spenddown of assets before applying for aid. Speak to an Elder law attorney or advisor. They may be able to help preserve some of your estate before qualifying for eligibility. The states have different requirements on assets, income caps, and state residency. Also, not all Nursing facilities accept Medicaid.

Aid and Attendance is a means tested benefit available to Qualifying veterans and their spouses. This assistance should be explored with a Veteran Service Officer.

Thoughtful analysis of preparations and solutions for life’s possibilities can help you ask intelligent questions, make informed decisions, and attend to needs. Your actions will benefit you and your family.

Surviving Spouse Corner
Patricia Green, Surviving Spouse Liaison

Surviving Spouse Corner – October 2025 Read More »

President’s Message – MOAA Florida Council of Chapters

Mail / By

COL Steve Bond, USA (Ret)

I can’t believe October is here. Fall is my favorite time of year in Florida. I love it when the weather cools…at least slightly—and it doesn’t seem like a sauna when you go outside! The past few months have been busy ones across the Council as we supported MOAA’s Summer Advocacy in Action (AiA) efforts and continued to prepare for our combined January 2026 Leadership Training Seminar and 49th Annual Convention (LTS-C). More on both of those below.

Out and About: I had some great visits over the summer—See the pictures on page 2. Ancient City Chapter invited all of the Northeast Area Chapters to an Officers Call at the National Guard Officers Club in St. Augustine—Nice event(!); Nassau Co. Chapter hosted a visit by MOAA President and CEO, Lt. Gen. Kelly (USAF, Ret)—They also invited the Northeast Area Chapters and a nearby Georgia Chapter; and, the Council was represented at the Florida National Guard Leadership Conference in Palm Beach Springs—The National Guard Conference gave us an opportunity to share the many wonderful things we do across the state and in our communities with the Florida Guard Officers, and invite them to join MOAA and our chapters. Gatherings of MOAA Members are always special and I want to thank Sarah McLevy, President of the Ancient City Chapter, and Tony LaVecchia, our Council VP and President of the Nassau Co. Chapter for sharing their chapter events with neighboring chapters—This is what “Camaraderie with a Purpose” is all about!

MOAA’s Summer Advocacy in Action (AiA) Campaign had our Legislative Advocacy mission front-and-center. The month of August is traditionally the time when our Senators and Representatives return to their home districts to meet with constituents. Many chapters set up meetings with their representatives, and we encouraged chapter members to contact their legislators through MOAA’s Legislative Action Center to remind them that we take care of the serving military, other veterans, and their families, and we vote! Council Legislative Chair, Pierre Louis, has more about the summer efforts and pending legislation in his article on page 6, and you’ll see some of the chapter supporting activities highlighted in the “Chapter News” section of this newsletter. We encourage all of you, your families, friends, and neighbors to sign up in the Legislative Action Center (at https://moaa.quorum.us/) and send the prepared emails to our legislators. Anyone can sign up to “be an advocate!”

You should know by now that registration is open for our 49th Annual Convention and Leadership Training Seminar (LTS-C) occurring from 29-31 January 2026 at the Rosen Centre in Orlando. It is shaping up to be an affordable, fun, and memorable event for all MOAA members, not just leaders. We expect MOAA Chairman of the Board, Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser (USMC, Ret) to be attending and our guest speaker, along with Amanda Centers, MOAA Vice President for MOAA Charities, and CAPT Frank Michael (USN, Ret), MOAA’s Senior Director for Councils and Chapters. In addition to informative workshops, there are opportunities for golfing, visiting the parks, playing for charity at our Casino Night fundraiser for The MOAA Foundation, a memorial service for those members we lost in 2025, and a Military-themed “Dining Out” sponsored by MOAA. Our January event is now one of the largest gatherings of MOAA members in the country, so plan to be there! As in the past, we need both chapter and member support for this event to be successful. Council VP Tony LaVecchia and Pat Kluever, our Immediate Past President and Event Chairman have more in their articles on page 3 and 5. Go to our website at www.FLMOAA.org to register.

Enjoy the beautiful fall weather, make sure to TAKE ACTION with our legislators, and register for the Leadership Training Seminar and Convention–I look forward to seeing many of you there!

President’s Message – MOAA Florida Council of Chapters Read More »

FDVA Survey

Florida State Launches Veterans Awareness Survey

FDVA, Health, Special News / By

Please respond to the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs (FDVA) short survey for Florida Veterans, their Families, and Caregivers that the FDVA has just launched. The survey expires on November 2, 2025.  The FDVA Veterans Services Survey is designed to better understand what services Veterans, their families, and Caregivers are aware of at the state, federal, and local veteran service office level, and how they access those services if additional support may be needed.  On behalf of the FDVA, I’m reaching out and asking for your help in spreading the word to ensure the FDVA gathers as many insights from survey takers as possible. Every response brings us closer to making sure no Florida Veteran, Family Member, and Caregiver goes without the benefits and support they’ve earned, and you’re helping shape programs and services that support Florida’s Veteran community.

Florida State Launches Veterans Awareness Survey Read More »

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Seal

Veteran’s Field Guide to Government Shutdown

Veteran Benefits, Special News / By

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates 97 percent of VA employees continue to work during a shutdown,
according to the VA Human Capital Contingency Plan. VA is committed to provide quality, consistent care and services
to Veterans, families, Caregivers, and Survivors. VA’s mission allows no exception to this standard even when operations
are limited by the absence of appropriations (commonly known as a “Government shutdown”).

Click here to view the complete guide in Adobe PDF format

MOAA Article What the Shutdown Means for Troops, Retirees, Veterans, and Families

By: Kevin Lilley

OCTOBER 01, 2025

The clock ran out on the federal budget process at midnight Tuesday, shutting down the government for the first time since a 2018-19 funding lapse that lasted more than a month.

While MOAA presses lawmakers to restore funding and to protect servicemember pay during the closure, you’ll find details on how the shutdown affects all who serve and have served, and their families, below. This page will be updated with new information as available.

Jump to:

Currently Serving and Families

Service members will report to duty during the shutdown but won’t be paid until funding is restored. Oct. 1 paychecks, drawn from funds budgeted for last fiscal year, were processed, but Oct. 15 checks won’t be processed without funding or other legislation.

The Pentagon’s shutdown contingency plan outlines the full scope of ongoing operations, to include furloughs for hundreds of thousands of civilians. Some key details from the plan and other sources:

  • Elective and routine medical procedures at military facilities may be canceled or postponed; contact your provider to confirm your appointment. The shutdown will not affect military families using TRICARE or TRICARE For Life benefits in the private sector.
  • Military pharmacies will remain open; however, hours may be subject to change.
  • Commissaries and exchanges will remain open, as will mess halls, gyms, and child care facilities “required for readiness.” Military personnel may replace furloughed civilians to allow for continuation of other services deemed “necessary or appropriate.” Facility and program closures, at least in the early hours of the shutdown, varied by installation.
  • “Community and public outreach programs” such as concerts, military airshow appearances, and similar events that are not fully funded with non-appropriated funds (NAF) will be canceled or postponed.
  • Death gratuity payments will continue. This is a change from the prior shutdown resulting from language in the 2021 appropriations legislation.
  • Department-run schools will remain in session, but extracurricular activities will be canceled unless paid for by non-appropriated funds. This could include sports practices and games, concerts, and similar events.
  • Some training for service members may be canceled or delayed if the instructor is a civilian. Contractor-led training may continue if the instructor is being paid from funds earmarked from the prior fiscal year.
  • PCS moves and temporary duty travel will be delayed unless they involve supporting “exempted activity” or are deemed “essential to mission.”
  • Traditional National Guard drills may be canceled, though mobilized Guard and Reserve members, like their active duty counterparts, would report for duty.
  • Active duty family members under the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) will remain covered. Premiums will be deducted from retroactive pay when posted.

Retirees and Survivors

  • Armed services retirees, to include Coast Guard retirees, will continue to receive retiree pay during the funding lapse. Officers who retired from the U.S. Public Health Service or NOAA would not receive their next paycheck (Oct. 1 checks, covering pay from September, were processed).
  • Commissaries and exchanges will remain open.
  • Elective and routine medical procedures at military facilities may be canceled or postponed; contact your provider to confirm your appointment. The shutdown will not affect retirees using TRICARE or TRICARE For Life benefits in the private sector.
  • Military pharmacies will remain open, but hours may change.
  • Survivor Benefit Plan payments will continue.
  • Retirees and survivors covered under the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) won’t be affected. Federal employees whose FEDVIP premiums are deducted from their federal pay will retain coverage; their premiums will be deducted from retroactive pay when posted. 

Veterans/VA

The VA’s contingency planning website contains full updates on the department’s status during the funding lapse. Some key points:

  • Health care facilities will remain open.
  • Education, housing, disability, and other VA benefits will continue.
  • Burials will continue at VA cemeteries, as will applications and related processing (except for pre-need burial applications). Grounds maintenance and headstone placement will be delayed.
  • Transition and career counseling services will stop, and regional benefits offices will close.
  • The primary call center (1-800-MyVA411), crisis line (988, press 1), and VA benefit hotline (1-800-827-1000) will remain open. GI bill and cemetery-applicant assistance lines will close.

Financial Support

More Links and Resources

Veteran’s Field Guide to Government Shutdown Read More »

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