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May is Military Appreciation Month

Special Events, Special News / By

May is Military Appreciation Month, a time to pause and reflect on the service and sacrifice of those who have served our country. Military Appreciation Month is also a time to acknowledge those who serve alongside veterans. The spouses, partners, and children of service members carry the weight of long absences, emotional distance, and silent struggles. Caring for the whole family is how we truly honor their service.

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Military Spouse Appreciation Day May 9th 2025

Special Events, Special News / By

Military Spouse Appreciation Day May 9th, 2025 Action 

National Military Spouse Appreciation Day is a presidentially approved holiday and is celebrated on the Friday before Mother’s Day in May. This year it will be observed on Saturday, May 9th, 2025. “A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.” — George A. Moore “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength. Loving someone deeply gives you courage.” — Lao Tzu

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Memorial Day Ceremony 05-23-25

Mail / By

The Orlando VA Healthcare System (OVAHCS) Memorial Day Ceremony on Friday, May 23rd at 10 a.m.

The Orlando VA Healthcare System (OVAHCS) will host a Memorial Day ceremony on Friday, May 23 at 10 a.m. to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Nation. The event will take place at the amphitheater located at the rear entrance of the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona.

Cindy VanBibber, Director of Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, will serve as the keynote speaker. A proud U.S. Army Veteran, VanBibber brings more than 25 years of combined military and federal service to her role. She has dedicated her career to ensuring Veterans and their families receive the honor and respect they deserve, particularly in their final resting place. Her leadership at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery has helped uphold the NCA’s sacred mission of memorializing those who served with dignity and reverence.

Orlando VA Director/CEO, Timothy J. Cooke emphasized the importance of community remembrance and Veteran support. “Memorial Day is a time for reflection and gratitude,” said Cooke. “This ceremony is a solemn reminder of the cost of freedom and an opportunity for our community to come together in honor of those who gave all.”

Event Details:

  • Date/Time: Friday, May 23 at 10 a.m.
  • Location: Amphitheater at the rear entrance of the Orlando VA Medical Center, Lake Nona, Orlando, Fla.
  • RSVP Requested: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TQG5VTL
  • Parking: Available in the east and west parking garages, as well as the south parking lot near the emergency department

Attendees are asked not to park in the Community Living Center or Domiciliary parking areas. Golf cart shuttles will be available to assist guests to and from the event location.

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Free Virtual Veterans Earned Benefits

Benefits, Special Events / By

Law Offices of Hoyt & Bryan Free Virtual Veterans Earned Benefits May 14th 9:30am

For those of you who attend our monthly luncheons, you may have passed on congratulations to CAPT (ret) Randy Bryan, who recently retired from the Navy Reserves last year in the JAG Corps with 31 years of dedicated service. I’ve known Randy since 2004, when I met his Grandma in my Grandma’s nursing home at Lutheran Haven. Randy holds monthly free virtual informative sessions on various topics. When he has a virtual session geared toward our veterans, I recommend that any veteran or family member attend to get the latest information about our veterans’ benefits. Randy does not handle service-connected disability claims. An invitation from Randy:  Are you a military veteran—or do you know someone who is? Many veterans aren’t fully aware of the extensive benefits they’ve earned. Join us on May 14th at 9:30 am for an informative session covering veteran medical benefits, service-connected disability compensation, non-service-connected pension program, and more. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to access the support and resources available to those who’ve served. Randy C. Bryan, J.D., B.C.S.  Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Elder Law and Wills, Trusts and Estates Hoyt & Bryan, LLC  254 Plaza Drive, Oviedo, FL 32765 

 (407) 977-8080 Push on the link below or register on   https://hoytbryan.com

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MOAA CFC Celebration JROTC Scholarship Program 2025

Chapter News, Special Events / By

The success of the Cadet of the Year scholarship program depends upon nominations of deserving cadets by the senior JROTC instructor at one of the 37 high schools in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties with JROTC detachments. The nominations are accompanied by a written recommendation from the nominating senior instructor. Each cadet nominated is interviewed in dress uniform by a diverse selection committee composed of three retired officers who are members of the Chapter. The interviews last approximately 15-20 minutes. Factors considered by the selection committee include but are not limited to: military bearing and appearance in uniform, cadet JROTC assignments, Advanced Placement and Honors classes taken or completed, GPA, school activities, service in the community and plans for future military service.

Three of us spend two Saturdays interviewing the top two senior cadets that the cadre instructors select from each school. On average we end up interviewing about 25-30 cadets. The competition is fierce, and we usually select the top 8-10 cadets based on our donations from our members (each cadet is awarded $1,000). Our JROTC luncheon is a favorite luncheon event as it’s an opportunity to showcase our future military leaders and recognize them with the generous financial donations from our chapter members for their achievements. It’s also an opportunity to show our gratitude to the cadre instructors and family members.

The Chapter believes the cadets benefit from the interviewing process whether they win a scholarship because they will be interviewing for positions throughout their lives. It was a privilege to share in the exciting achievements of not only what the cadets have accomplished in High School, but we shared in the excitement that two received Service Academy Appointments, and some qualified for ROTC Scholarships, and one is enlisting in the Coast Guard! Each year I think I can’t be more impressed with our selection of cadets, and each year I hear and see more potential for military service in the cadets we selected. On behalf of all three selection board members, I want to thank the hard-working Cadre Instructors who take their job seriously to train and mold our future leaders, and the family members who help guide and support their children who in many cases want to follow in their footsteps and serve our country. Job well-done Cadets!

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Lorraine Holland

President’s Message – May 2025

Presidents Message / By

President’s Message

It is with great pride I announce that our 2025 JROTC Scholarship Selection Board chose 8 of the finest cadets in Central Florida! We are now up to 37 JROTC High Schools in our catchment area. Without the generosity of our chapter members to contribute to our scholarship fund, our ability to issue a check for $1,000 to each cadet would not be possible. I thank you for seeing the goodness of our program and supporting the future leaders of our military! I would be remiss if I didn’t thank members of our chapter for making our scholarship program a reality on April 12th: LTC Dean Ptaszynski, COL Kin La Fate, LTC Mike and Vicki Gillett, CDR Randy Fiebrandt and our photographer Nita Seng. I hope you take the time to read the attached bios of each of the 8 cadets. We honored the cadets, their family and cadre on April 12th with a luncheon, and each year I remind myself that this is the most celebrated luncheon of the year with our members. I want to also thank COL Bob Brogan for overseeing and keeping track of the MOAA JROTC Leadership Medal program with our 37 JROTC High Schools (no easy task to keep up with). Several of our chapter members continue to present the MOAA medal to the Junior Cadets, and it’s always exciting to see the delight on the cadets faces as they cheer on their fellow cadets!

This Memorial Day on the 26th day of May, it’s up to all of us to honor the legacy and memory of our fallen noble heroes who we memorialize on what makes our nation exceptionally extraordinary, For some of us, every day is Memorial Day as we accept the deaths of those we know who gave their lives for love of country and democracy we so cherish. We look upon them as our own beloved sons and daughters knowing their patriotic sacrifices live on through safeguarding their memories by future generations to come. President Reagan reminded us that “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.”

I want to welcome CPT’s Ashley and Stephen Orf who joined our MOAA family (both West Point graduates). Ashley is active in the veteran community as the VFW Auxiliary Senior Vice President of Winter Springs Post 5405. We all send her and Stephen our best wishes to welcome their first bundle of joy this September (their baby will be our newest Honorary MOAA family member).

I encourage you to attend our May 13th Chapter Luncheon to help celebrate LT Ted Goodwin and COL Carol Reagles 95th May birthdays and hear informative information from our Central Florida Quilts of Valor representative Valerie Philon, who will honor Ted and Carol with a Quilt of Valor to thank them and honor them for their years of service. For those of you that will be taking vacations during the upcoming months, please make memorable memories, and safe travels on your journeys!
Cheers, Lorraine

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