Main Menu
Menu
Donation Page
Purple Heart Day

We Honor Purple Heart Day on August 7th

Special Events / By

The Purple Heart was instituted in 1782 by George Washington and is the first American decoration. Originally it was awarded for bravery in action, currently it is awarded to those wounded or killed in action, in the latter case posthumously. An Oak Leaf Cluster is added when a previously wounded person already has a Purple Heart. The decoration is a purple, heart-shaped badge with bronze edges. It depicts in relief a bust of George Washington wearing the uniform of a General in the Continental Army. On the reverse side is the inscription: “For Military Merit” with the recipient’s name below. It is estimated that just for World War II 1,076,245 Purple Hearts were awarded. Go to www.thepurpleheart.com to find a list of recipients.

Our very own Navy CAPT (Ret) Rich Sloane of MOAA Central Florida Chapter is a member of Chapter 400 General Bob Betts Memorial of the Military Order of the Purple Heart in Central Florida. Chapter 400 meetings are at 6:00 pm on the third Tuesday every month and are held at VFW Post 4287 located at 3500 South Goldenrod Road, Orlando, Florida. Check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MOPH400Orlando/ . Each member is a decorated war veteran who has completed military service. “During my time and service, I lost five shipmates in a combat situation,” said Chapter 400 Adjutant Rich Sloane. Rich is a Navy man himself, but the bond he shares with his fellow service members across all branches of the military is something he says he will always cherish. “On a day like today and other national holidays around military service, it reminds me of the sacrifices of those individuals and their families,” he said. The Military Order of the Purple Heart is an organization formed in 1932. The Central Florida chapter takes the opportunity to gather and interact with the community and help familiarize people with the history and purpose of the Purple Heart medal. “We try to contribute to the community through volunteer service,” Rich says. “Pinning on the Purple Heart is just an opportunity to think about those folks who made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Rich.

We Honor Purple Heart Day on August 7th Read More »

Surviving Spouse Pat Green

Surviving Spouse Corner, July 2025

Surviving Spouse / By

Dear Readers, I have recently redone my will.
We should all redo or review this whenever a family event happens, or a considerable amount has passed since the last review. As I finished, sign, and had papers witnessed, my attorney handed me a to-do list. The first item on it was “check that beneficiaries are correct on all transferrable assets”.

I thought this was a bit overkill, but complied. Imagine my shock when I discovered that a stranger’s name was listed as a beneficiary on my brokerage account! Coincidently my broker was on vacation. After a flurry of phone calls, considerable paper shuffling, and his return to town all was corrected. The mistake was a software glitch accompanied by a user error, probably a one-time event. Even so, the brokerage firm verified that all other accounts in house had the correct names on their beneficiary records. It was a lot of work for all of us.

During the process, I kept imagining what would happen if I died before a correction was filed? So please, double check that all beneficiary accounts have the correct names on them. Keep a photocopy of all the papers you sign. An ounce of prevention is priceless.

Happy paper shuffling!

Surviving Spouse Corner, July 2025 Read More »

MOAA CFC Board President

President’s Message – July 2025

Presidents Message / By

I hope you all are enjoying your summer vacation and enjoying time with your family and friends! For those of you that have been away, welcome home, and for those of you still seeking relief in cooler places, I can’t fault you for being away!

Just a reminder that our next Chapter luncheon is September 9th.

I am the MOAA representative on 8 different veteran related councils in Florida, and I’m fortunate to have a close friendship with our VA Lake Nona Outreach Coordinator Harold Borrero (he spoke at a previous luncheon). The VA continues to seek out veterans who are not enrolled and asks that we encourage them to consider doing so. VA.gov offers a wealth of information for not only the veteran, but families and surviving spouses. I’ve put together “Cliff Notes” with a few links in this newsletter and a VA Welcome Kit is attached to the email to pique your interest. Our VA is funded based on the number of enrolled veterans. You served your country, and this is one of your earned benefits.

Looks like scammers haven’t taken the summer off and are up to their old tricks to deceive our members. Please be wary of opening emails that ask you to purchase gift cards; we have a Treasurer that controls our chapter funds, and rest assured no one from our chapter will ask you to make a purchase.

Please give thought to joining our Chapter Board of Directors. We are long overdue to having new faces represent our chapter. We especially need a Secretary to record the minutes when we have a Board Meeting. I produce a detailed agenda and the meeting is recorded. We learned at our last luncheon that COL (ret) Kin LaFate has decided to relocate, so that leaves a vacancy for our Chapter Vice President. And it goes without saying that for many years now I’ve asked to have new blood at the helm as our Chapter President. I’m not going anywhere, as I’m deeply entrenched in our Veteran Councils and will remain so as the MOAA representative. Being the Chapter President is a very rewarding position and if you are looking to add another layer of purpose and meaning to your life, I can’t think of a better opportunity!

Cheers, Lorraine


Quote: “We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls. “ – Robert J. McCracken
Cheers, Lorraine

President’s Message – July 2025 Read More »

Hope Florida – A Pathway for Patriots

Mail / By

Are you a veteran?


Hope Florida, an initiative spearheaded by First Lady
Casey DeSantis, uses Hope Navigators to guide Florida
veterans on an individualized path to prosperity and
economic self-suciency by focusing on community
collaboration between the private sector, faith-based
community, nonprofits, and government entities.
These experts work hand-in-hand with veterans to
identify their unique barriers to success and engage all
sectors of the community to break down traditional silos,
maximizing support and uncovering opportunities.

What can we do for you?

  • Identify goals and barriers.
  • Connect you to local community-based partners.
  • O„er one-on-one support to develop a plan to
    achieve economic self-suciency.

We can help you access:

  • Housing
  • Employment
  • Medical Treatment
  • Transportation
  • Education
  • Substance Abuse Treatment
  • Legal Assistance
  • Utility Payment Assistance
  • Childcare
  • VA Benefits
  • Finance & Budgeting
  • And much more

To View the Complete Flyer – Click Here

Spearheaded by First Lady Casey DeSantis

Hope Florida – A Pathway for Patriots Read More »

Randall R Fiebrandt 245x320 2

The 2025 hurricane season begins on June 1st

Mail / By

The time for Florida families to plan is TODAY.

Now is a great opportunity for your family to stock your disaster supply kits with vital supplies like a first aid kit, a radio, flashlights, batteries and other necessities. Your kit should also include 7 days’ worth of food and water, prescription medications, and any important documents. See attached flyer.

Before a Storm

  • Prepare an evacuation plan & make sure everyone in your home knows the plan.
  • Stock up on emergency supplies, including:
    • Water – You will need water for drinking, cooking, and sanitation purposes. Pack a minimum of 1 gallon daily per person for 7 days.
    • Food – You will need enough food for a minimum of 7 days:
      • Non-perishable packaged or canned food and juices
        • Manual can opener.
      • Foods for individuals with dietary restrictions (i.e., infants, elderly, etc.)
      • Snack foods
      • Cooking tools and fuel
      • Paper plates and plastic utensils
    • Flashlight, Extra Batteries, and Cell Phone Battery Power Device
    • Pillows, Blankets and/or Sleeping Bags
    • Clothing – Include a complete change of clothes suitable for your area’s climate. Be sure to include sturdy shoes to protect you from debris or other sharp objects you may encounter outdoors post-storm
    • First Aid Kit, Prescription Medication and Other Medicines
    • Radio – Battery operated and NOAA weather radio
    • Toiletries
    • Cleaning Supplies – Include garbage bags, moisture wipes, and other items you may need to sanitize your home or surrounding post-disaster
    • Special Items – Assess the needs of all family members. Consider other items needed for infants, elderly, and individuals with access and functional needs (i.e., medical items, baby bottles, etc.)
    • Cash – Banks and ATMs may not be open or available for extended periods following a disaster
    • Toys, Books and Games
    • Important Documents – Consider storing all critical documents in a waterproof container, as well as saving them electronically. These items can include, but are not limited to, insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.
    • Tools
    • Pet Care Items
      • Proper identification/ immunization records
      • Ample supply of food and water
      • Carrier or cage
      • Medications
      • Muzzle and leash
      • Photo of you and your pet(s) – in the event that you are separated from your pet, having an updated photo with your pet will help validate pet ownership
  • If you have been told to evacuate, EVACUATE. Don’t stay behind. We can rebuild a home, but we can’t rebuild a life.

See Printable or Downloadable Hurricane Flyer Here

The 2025 hurricane season begins on June 1st Read More »

Skip to content