Grand Strand Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America |
January 2025 Meeting
Our guest speakers at the January meeting were representatives from Lower Cape Fear Life Care, whose mission is to provide access to the highest quality life care, education, and supportive services to their patients, their families, and the communities they serve. They are a partner in the We Honor Veterans program, a collaboration of the VA and National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
Realizing that veterans often have a special connection with one another, their Vet-to-Vet volunteer program seeks to match Veteran patients with Veteran volunteers, with the goal of helping to relieve stress and anxiety for patients and their families. In addition to providing companionship visits, community outreach, or bereavement calls, volunteers can make a local impact by assisting with special events such as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans celebrations, Vet-to-Vet Cafés and Veterans Appreciation Pinnings.
February 2025 Meeting
Our guest speaker at the February meeting was Crystal Clark, Sr. Director of National Donor Engagement for Stop Soldier Suicide (SSS). SSS is the only national nonprofit focused solely on solving the issue of suicide among U.S. veterans and service members. All services are 100% free regardless of branch, discharge status or era served.
Did you know:
• Veterans and service members are 58% more likely to die by suicide than their civilian peers?
• More than 6,000 veterans have died by suicide each year for 20 consecutive years?
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for veterans under the age of 45?
If you know a veteran or service member who needs help, call 844-556-2093 (available 24/7). For more information about how you can help you may reach out to Crystal Clark directly at crystal.clark@stopsoldiersuicide.org or visit their website at www.stopsoldiersuicide.org. Thank you for helping spread the word!
March 2025 Meeting
Our guest speaker was Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune. Mayor Bethune is a native of Myrtle Beach who has always had a sincere passion to serve her community. She owns BJ Investments, a property investment, development and rental company, as well as Magnolia Row Shopping Centre. Even though she has served on many local and state boards, her pride is in giving back to her community to make it a better place for generations to come. Mayor Bethune loves her job as a public servant and when introduced to people, her common request is, “Please call me Brenda.” First elected in 2017, she was the first female Mayor of Myrtle Beach. Her term expires in January 2026. Brenda spoke of the accomplishments and ongoing plans to make Myrtle Beach a great place to live and work.
April 2025 Meeting
Our guest speaker at the April meeting was General Laura Richardson, USA (Ret.). During her distinguished 38-year career Gen. Richardson served in many capacities and rose to the rank of 4 Star General. She commanded units from the company level to combatant command level and served as the Army’s first female combat arms general officer.
Gen. Richardson was also a combat aviator and commanded an assault helicopter battalion, which included flying combat missions in the 101st Airborne Division in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Now retired from the military, she is active with a number of organizations involved in advising on national security issues, foreign relations, economic security, and other interests. She and her husband are now members of our Grand Strand MOAA Chapter.
Gen. Richardson, thank you for your service!
May 2025 Meeting
There were a record number of attendees at our meeting and we also welcomed 8 new Chapter members (see separate article). Thanks to all who attended and we look forward to your continued participation in our Chapter events.
JROTC instructors from our Chapter’s supported Units were recognized for their selfless work in leading their programs at Andrews Navy JROTC, Aynor Army JROTC, Carolina Forest Navy JROTC, Carvers Bay Marine Corps JROTC, Conway Navy JROTC, Dillon Army JROTC, Georgetown Navy JROTC, Green Sea Floyds Army JROTC, Hemingway Army JROTC, Loris Army JROTC, Marion Army JROTC, Marlboro County Army JROTC, Myrtle Beach Navy JROTC, North Myrtle Beach Navy JROTC, Saint James Army JROTC. Horry County School District JROTC Program Directors LTC James Davis, USA (Ret.) and MSG William Griffin, USA (Ret.) were also recognized.
June 2025 Meeting
Our special guest speaker in June was Major General (MG) Jeff Jones, South Carolina National Guard, and the Deputy Adjutant General of our State. MG Jones discussed issues currently facing the National Guard, as well as the Guard's critical role in hurricane response.
MG Jones also had some wise words of advice for us: respect our flag; look to the flag for our national purpose; remember our veterans; and be an example for our younger generation to im-press upon them the importance of these values.
At the June meeting we celebrated the 250th birthday of the United States Army. All of us enjoyed a delicious cake pro-vided by Chapter member Charles Guerry – thank you Charles!
September 2025 Meeting
Members returned to Pine Lakes Country Club after the
summer break and enjoyed a special prime rib dinner at our
September 9 chapter meeting. It was announced that Dean Brown will head the nominating
committee for our Chapter elections to be held in November.
And we were proud to announce that Jim Albert is the new President
of the South Carolina Council of MOAA Chapters. (See separate article
on SC MOAA and the upcoming state conference in Greenville, SC.)
Coastal Carolina University has asked MOAA members to participate
in honors at their football game on November 8. We hope you will
consider attending.
The MOAA memorial at Warbird Park in Myrtle Beach has been
restored at minimal cost to our Chapter, thanks to Bernie Calaway’s
persistence in locating a company to provide this service.
October 2025 Meeting
Vice President Dean Brown presented our slate of 2026 Chapter officer candidates:
President ─ John Bradley
1st Vice President ─.Karl Jordan
Membership/2nd Vice President ─ Claude Poirier
Secretary ─ Lisa Rotte
Treasurer ─ James Offutt
Voting for our 2026 Chapter Officers will take place at the GS MOAA Dinner Meeting in November.
Our October guest speaker, Dr. Blase Carabello, is the Board Director, Friends of Fisher House. Program. He is a cardiovascular researcher and clinician whose work has appeared in more than 500 medical journals, books and editorials. He is also currently the program director for the Valve Program at Roper St. Francis Hospital, Charleston SC. His extensive medical expertise and understanding of complex healthcare systems provides invaluable insight to Friends of Fisher House Charleston as they support families navigating medical treatment. Dr. Carabello has spent 29 years working with Veterans Administration hospitals. He was proud to let us know that the Charleston VA hospital system has the highest rating of all (not just VA) South Carolina hospitals, earning 5 stars for patient satisfaction.
November 2025 Meeting
Veterans Outreach Chapter Director, Truman Parmele: Truman spoke about the Stand Down held at the Aynor Wacamaw Indian reservation in October. 47 veterans were served. Special thanks to Del Webb for their generous donations of clothing to support this effort.
South Carolina Council of MOAA Chapters: It was announced that our own Jim Albert is now the South Carolina Council President, and Claude Poirier is the Membership Officer for the State Council. Jim and Claude were installed at the recent November 8 meeting in Greenwood, SC (see photos in following pages). Anyone interested in helping with any State MOAA efforts to support our state-wide veteran community can reach out to Jim by email at james.r.albert@att.net or by cell at 203-509-8555.
Special Guest Speaker, General Laura Richardson: Gen. Richardson gave us an overview of her career from her time in ROTC to commanding an assault helicopter battalion in the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq. General Richardson shattered barriers and set an example for future generations of service members. As General, she held multiple high-profile commands, including serving as the Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Forces Command and the first woman to ever lead U.S. Southern Command. She was appointed to U.S. Global Leadership Coalition National Security Advisory Council which includes nearly 270 retired three- and four-star generals and admirals among its ranks. The Coalition supports advancing America’s national security by strengthening all the tools of national security — diplomacy and development, alongside a strong defense. Gen. Richardson gave a special thanks to the JROTC members who were present at our meeting.
The Loris High School JROTC presented colors at our November meeting:
December 2025 Meeting
Our new officers were sworn in and the meeting got underway. President John announced that Pine Lakes Country Club offered the Chapter a 2026 contract for our dinner meetings with no increase in price. Great news!
Treasurer Jim Offutt reported that Chapter finances are in good shape; all bills are paid, 2025 expenses were close to budget, and we currently have approximately $32,000 in our two accounts.
Veterans Outreach Director Truman Parmele announced that the recent Stand Down held at the General Reid Center in Myrtle Beach served 123 veterans, making a total of 170 veterans served in 2025.
Special Guest Speaker, Jerry Hoover: Jerry (a former U. S. Marine), with the help of his wife, Nancy, is the Horry County coordinator for the Toys for Tots program. Currently there are 800 donations boxes placed throughout the county. In 2024 over 58,000 toys were donated, which provided 20,000 kids with a gift at Christmas time. Toy collection includes a combination of locally donated toys, those purchased by the Foundation, and those donated by corporations. Jerry said that each toy is documented and each recipient is verified. Today, there are nearly 40,000 Marines, Marine Corps League members, veteran Marines and volunteers involved in annual campaigns. Jerry said he lives by the motto, “A child for every toy, a toy for every child.” Thanks to all our members who donated two full boxes of toys at our meeting.
The Hawkappellas, a choral group from Myrtle Beach High School, also sung a lovely program of Christmas music to us.
