****Posted 8/28/2023****

Our Grand Strand Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America was selected by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce as the July 2023 Nonprofit of the Month.

****Posted 3/24/2023****

Francis “Frank” Anthony Esposito, 76, passed away Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach. Funeral services will be 1:00 PM, Saturday, March 25, 2023, at McMillan-Small Funeral Home Chapel, Myrtle Beach.  A full obituary follows:

Obituary

Francis “Frank” Anthony Esposito, 76, of Myrtle Beach, SC passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 22, 2023 with his wife and children by his side at Grand Strand Medical Center.  “Frank, Frankie and Dad” as his close friends and family called him was a husband, father, grandfather and patriot. He is survived by his wife of 55 years Ellen, three children Andrew, Kevin, Tara, and three grandchildren Isabelle, Brayden and Rylee.  

Frank was an avid golfer who never met a high risk shot he did not like.  His favorite club was often “driver off the deck.”  He was golfing right up to the day his illness began in earnest.   In his later years, Frank devoted much of his free time to veterans programs including the Military Officers Association of America, raising money for JR ROTC college scholarships, homeless veterans and at risk veteran families.  

On July 9th, 1971 then First Lieutenant Esposito of the United States Army received The Distinguished Flying Cross medal “For heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty in Laos.”  Frank continued in service to the military and his country, retiring with the rank of Colonel in 1998.  Colonel Esposito was an active member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association.  

Upon completion of full time military service, Frank had a successful career with Mobil Oil throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.  

In heaven Frank will be reunited with HIS black lab Casey.  After Casey’s passing Frank always carried dog biscuits on his person to make acquaintance with other four legged friends.

Born July 18, 1946, Frank was born to Francis and Viola Esposito with one younger brother Douglas in Rockville Centre, NY.  

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you please make a donation in Frank’s name to the Grand Strand Humane Society  for homeless animals.  

Funeral services will be 1:00 PM, Saturday, March 25, 2023, at McMillan-Small Funeral Home Chapel, Myrtle Beach.

****Posted 3/19/2023****

GRAND STRAND MOAA VETERANS GOLF TOURNAMENT

Our major fundraiser will be held at the Wild Wing Golf Club on Saturday, September 9^th. We hold this tournament in September to provide a special remembrance of the September 11 attacks, often referred to as 9/11. Much good work is accomplished with the proceeds collected from the golf tournament:

****Posted 1/26/2023****

Click the link below to view the latest Aiken MOAA Chapter courier.

MOAA Courier FEB 2023.pdf

You can get more information about the Grand Strand Chapter of MOAA and stay up to date on many of our efforts and activities through our Facebook social media site at: https://www.facebook.com/GSMOAA/

****Posted 11/12/2022 ****

2022 Veterans Day Memorial Celebration at War Bird Park, GSMOAA Memorial Site

               

Tony Prince, CAPT,USN (ret), Chapter President, officiates ceremony with Chapter members, spouses, and spouses of deceased members. 

****Posted 11/01/2022 ****

ALL:   Please see the below request for support from our SC Council of Chapters MOAA President, Mike Akey.  You may respond directly to his POC identified below...

Tony Prince

GSMOAA Chapter, President

**********************************

From: Mike Akey 
Date: Mon, Oct 31, 2022 at 12:34 PM
Subject: Request for Assistance - Service Academy Interviewers

All

Sen Grahams office has requested the assistance of  South Carolina MOAA.  Specifically the request is for 15 Officers to conduct interviews of young men and women that seek appointments to the nations service academy's.  I'm asking that you circulate this to your membership to solicit volunteers.  There is not a need to be a service academy graduate BTW.  The last time we supported this we had a great response, in other words well in excess of 15 officers.  

I asked David Lobb to provide more info on the request and his response is below.  He will be the Council's project officer and coordinator.  Contact info is in his response.

Response:

Senator Graham’s Academy Review Board POC, Paul Howell, has asked MOAA SC for help in reviewing applicants for the next selections cycle for the military academies. These interviews will take place during Dec 2022 and Jan 2023 at Senator Graham’s three office locations (Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston).  Paul will need at least 15 military officers for these interviews.  About 80% of these interviews will take place in Columbia and Charleston. Please let me know ASAP if you would like to serve on this board and any time restraints you might have.  I have served many times on these boards and I can tell you that this is a heart warming experience to meet these young people and assist the Senator in selecting the future senior leaders on our military.  If you have any questions about serving please reach out to me by phone 803-270-8690 or email david@dbl-inc.com

Thanks for your support.

Mike

Michael Akey

President, SC Council of Chapters MOAA

 

****Posted 10/21/2022 ****

SUBJECT:  List of Upcoming Fall Events

Colleagues,

 Please be advised of the following list of upcoming Fall 2022 events, in chronological order, shared by various members of our Chapter.....

1.  Upcoming Stand Down Announcements:

Grand Strand MOAA will hold Veteran Stand Downs on the following dates at the indicated locations.  

November 5 - Noon-3pm, Marion High School, 1205 South Main Street, Marion SC 29571, from noon-3pm this coincides with Marion SC Veteran Day Celebraton

November 6 - 1000-1300 (10 AM- 1 PM), Waccamaw Tribal Grounds, 491 Bluewater RD, Anyor SC.  This also is the same date as the Waccamaw Tribal Pow WOW

November 22,, 10AM - 1pm. General Reed Center, 800 Gabreski Ln, Market Commons, Myrtle Beach SC 29577 This coincides with the Myrtle Beach Veteran Expo where veterans can get assistance in preparing VA claims, medical, dental, legal assistance and other assistance areas.

Member are needed to assist in preparing for these Stand Downs on 27 Oct from 10 AM-noon, and 4 November from 1pm-3pm. The address for the Stand Down preparation is the Army Reserve Center, 3392 Phyllis Ave, Market Commons, Myrtle Beach SC 29577.  Any member who can assist in these dates please contact Truman Parmele at 703-258-2708 or his email:  okomfan44@gmail.com

Members are also encouraged to volunteer to help with the above Stand Downs please contact Truman at the same phone or email address.  

 ************

2.  COL Tim Houser at Green Sea Floyds' High School, Army JROTC  has invited MOAA chapter members to attend their breakfast and Veterans Day program on 9 Nov 2022, at 0900 hrs.

 They are a fine Unit and one of the most supportive of our 17 schools.  If you can attend please respond directly to him.

COL(R) Timothy P. Houser

Senior Army Instructor

Green Sea Floyds Middle/High School

Army JROTC

(843) 392-3131

thouser@horrycountyschools.net

*************

3. LTCOL Scott Bartley's has invited MOAA Chapter members to attend the St. James HS Army JROTC Veteran's Day program to be held 11 Nov at 1000 (arriving by 0945).  

    This is an outstanding event which our members have attended multiple times.  Each time it is different and terrific.  With no exaggeration it is better than any active duty command's Veteran's Day program I ever attended, says Dean Brown, our Chapter, JROTC Coordinator.  If you can make it, I highly encourage you to do so and RSVP to Scott. 

SCOTT L. BARTLEY

Lieutenant Colonel (retired), US Army

Senior Army Instructor

St. James High School Army JROTC

o-843-650-1476

c-216-469-6717

SBartley@horrycountyschools.net

You will be inspired and glad you went.  St. James AJROTC is also one of our most active and supportive Units.   

 ******************

4. The Grand Strand Chapter of MOAA will commemorate Veterans Day on Friday, November 11 at 3:00pm at our monument in Warbird Park at Market Common.

Please join your fellow members as we pay our respects to those who have served. We will celebrate and honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

We hope to see you there.

Tony Prince 

Chapter President

//SIGNED//

Sincerely,

Tony Prince, CAPT, USN (Ret'd)

President

GSMOAA

****Posted 10/21/2022 ****

Paris Island USMC Band sponsored by Georgetown County Parks and Recreation and the Low Country Veterans Group of Georgetown 

                                              

   Lt Col Roger Pilcher, USMC (ret) and                                    Lt Col Pilcher (USMC ret), Lt Col Rutledge,

GSMOAA Chapter member introduces the                   USA (ret), & LCVG Cmdr, and GySgt   

Band as Master of Ceremonies        Jeremy Payne as USMC, Paris Island band        leader                         

****Posted 10/13/2022 ****

GS MOAA Annual Appreciation and Recognition Luncheon, October 11, 2022

                                                                      

      Guest Speaker; Ed Piotrowsky, Chief Meteorologist,              GSMOAA Coin, provided by Tony Prince, as         WPDE News 15.                                                                            token of our appreciation.

     Appreciation and Recognition Certificates presented to each Partner organization by our Chapter...

             

     Rob Clemons, Monarch Roofing        Kathleen Williams, Quilts of           David Coy, Coastal Vino Shop

                                                                      Valor

                                         

          Webb Cares, Del Webb Community                             Special thanks to Frank Esposito, long-standing

       Chapter Member/contributor and Jim Offutt, Golf        Committee, Chair 

 

Added thanks to partners not present include:

  * Jim Gassler, Gassler & Co, Accounting Firm. 

  * Lou & Paul Rodriquez, Myrtle Beach Chevrolet

  * Chris Aranda, Myrtle Beach VET Center

  * Scott Dulebohn, Vet Welcome Home and Resource Center

  * John Short, Chapter Member, Golf Committee 

  * Billy Aerhart, Hope VA of Loris, SC

  

   

****Posted 9/16/2022 ****

GS MOAA Return From Summer Dinner Meeting, Sep 13, 2022.

{President Prince introduces guest speaker, Mr. Ryan Foultz; founder, PCRX, a local Information Technology (IT) support company that helps local businesses navigate and protect themselves from cyber threats.  Provided Chapter coin gift as token of appreciation. 

                                     

Updates provided by Chapter Board Members and current office holders:

                                            

           Peggy DeVivo, Surviving                  Jim Offutt, Golf Cmte Chair                Gale Fellowes, Treasurer

   Spouses &  Social Cmte

           Chair

           

           Truman Parmele, 2nd VP 

            & Vet Out Reach, Chair 

            (Standing, Red Shirt)

 

****Posted 6/17/2022 ****

                                                                           

GS MOAA Chapter Luncheon Meeting at Dunes, Myrtle Beach Country Club, June 14, 2022 (Last meeting before Summer Break):  Guest Speaker, Claude Schmid, COL, USA (ret). Founder of Veterans Last Patrol.   Our Chapter coin presented by Tony Prince, Chapter President.