Here are even more pictures of the total eleven veterans recognized during the New River Chapter's 2019 Marathon Jam and recipients of a "healing" quilt from the Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild.

Still more...

* Open the pictures displayed (right), as well in the thumbnail photographs, to see the many veterans who were recognized and received thanks for their service by being "wrapped" in healing quilts made by members of the Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild.

More pictures of veterans being recognized...

* The New River Chapter hosted the 2019 Marathon Jam at the Ashe Arts Council Building in West Jefferson, NC on May 18, 2019.

* This years Jam, which raises money to support the Fisher Houses at Fort Bragg, NC and Camp LeJeune, NC, was a great success with several of the musicians earning the coveted title of "Iron Picker" having played for the duration of the event.

* MOAA and the Piecemakers Quilt Guild honored 11 vets representing WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the conflicts of the Middle East and the cold war. One brave enlisted Gunnery Sergeant in the USMC did 4 tours in Vietnam as a K-9 Point man on patrols into the jungles. He is highly decorated and has FOUR Purple Hearts. Two WWII vets were honored one of whom was on Iwo Jima. One Army retired Master Sergeant lady was with NORAD and played a very important role in America’s defense. Another honoree was a retired Lt. Colonel from Army and National Guard who led his local unit to national recognition as one of the most squared away National Guard units in the USA. Others honored were from the Navy and Air Force. Two other very dedicated ladies who were honored run local and national programs to help those veterans with chronic PTSD.

* Pictured (added images) are photographs taken during the day of musicians and audience attendees. Be sure and scroll over the thumbnail photographs to the right to see more pictures from the day-long event.

* The downloadable file is the article published in the May 29, 2019 Ashe Post & Times on the event.

* Thanks to all who participated, and donated, to our Chapter's Jam to support the Fisher Houses.

Click here to open a follow-on posting with pictures about veterans who received "healing" quilts from the Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild during the Marathon Jam.

* Shown in the photograph (right) as well as the thumbnails are several of the many veterans that were recognized on May 19th at the Marathon Jam and wrapped in the healing warmth of a quilt made by the Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild.

* The New River Chapter and the Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild were especially honored to make a presentation of one of the quilts to Tina Palmer (shown below right), mother of Ashe County veteran Sgt. Dillon Baldridge, who was killed in Afghanistan and whose memorial service was attended by hundreds of Ashe Countians when held in 2017.

* The third annual Marathon Jam was held on May 19, noon to midnight in the Ashe County Arts Council building.

* While pickin’ and grinnin,’ both awareness and funds were raised for military families by supporting the Fisher Houses at Camp Lejeune and Fort Bragg.

* Each of the musicians who participated for all 12 hours of the jam - noon to midnight - were rewarded with the designation "Iron Picker." They include (pictured L to R, below right) Jonathan Phipps, Henry Doss, Catalina Burns, Henry Burns, Vance Archer, Chris Binkowski and Earl Inge.

* Several times during the day-long event, time was taken to honor the service of veterans and present them with a quilt made by the Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Guild. Look at the thumbnails to the right to see many of the beautiful quilts that were used to wrap the veterans in it's warming support for their service and sacrifice.

* Ashe County "Thank a Vet" program goes live.

* A new program honoring vets began on May 31st...go by the Ashe County Courthouse with your DD214 to enroll and get your discount card. If you have already registered your DD214 with the Register of Deeds then you won't need to bring a copy. Just have a photo taken, get your new card and start saving!

* Click here for a list of participating businesses and check back often as new ones are being added on a regular basis.

* The New River Chapter's Board of Directors has prepared a calendar of events for our membership in 2021 beginning with a Thursday evening "Meet and Greet" to be held at the exciting new location for The Tavern (formerly the Sears store) in West Jefferson, NC @ 1730. This first gathering of our membership will be an opportunity for all to renew acquaintances and maybe even meet new people.

* In lieu of a regular gathering with a more traditional dining experience, the Chapter has reserved the use of the small dining room at the Tavern where attendees can order their own drinks from the bar - beer, wine or cocktails - and numerous delicious hors-d'oeuvres will be available on tables in the meeting space.

* Join us at 1730 on May 20th for a return to "normal" activities with the New River Chapter after a L-O-N-G absence that was necessitated by COVID-19.

* We look forward to having many of our members come out and help us to launch a "GREAT" 2021 for the New River Chapter, and remember, bring a friend or acquaintance especially if he/she is in our eligible field of participants (any veteran who is or was in one of the seven commissioned branches of the military).

The New River Chapter was awarded $3750 in two grants from MOAA, one for $2500 (Community Grant) and the second for $1250 (COVID relief). Read the MOAA web posting here.

Return to this posting in the future to read more about the application of these grant monies by the chapter...

* The New River Chapter's Board of Directors held a Zoom meeting to evaluate our plans for hosting a holiday party. Due to an abundance of caution and owing to the continued Phase 3 limitations on public gatherings in NC, it was decided that we will NOT hold an in person celebration on Sunday, December 13, 2020 which was to have taken place at the Ashe Arts Council building in West Jefferson, NC.

* Given that our last gathering was the BOTM - which was a successful time with many of the Chapter members present - and the fact that we go into a form of hibernation until sometime in April, 2021, the Chapter leaders also decided that we should have some type of "face to face" opportunity to celebrate the season. We will be holding a ZOOM gathering at 2:00 PM on Sunday, December 13, 2020 for as long as people want to stay connected when we can lift a glass and share in whatever holiday treat that each of us want to have.

* An e-mail message will be forthcoming sometime after Thanksgiving that will have the link that Chapter members can use to connect with everyone. Just for fun, everyone is invited to dress in their most festive holiday garb for their on-screen presence.

* We look forward to having this last time for meeting in 2020 and hope that 2021 will bring a whole new perspective on life "POST COVID-19" at which time we can continue to share in camaraderie with other like-minded retirees and once again work to "Never Stop Serving."

* CHEERS!

* Due to the operation and maintenance, as well as time needed for the creation of the New River Current newsletter, the Board of Directors regrettably accepted a request to lessen some of the burden of the editor (also the website manager) in keeping everyone connected to our Chapter.

* This is one we can't blame on COVID-19!

* Be on the lookout in the future wherein you will be receiving e-mails marked as "eNewsletters" which will contain many stories and posts of exciting and timely New River Chapter events!

* We promise not to "clog your email inbox" but will strive to ensure that you are staying abreast with the activities of our Chapter, as well as news coming down from National MOAA.

* Thanks for your interest and continuing support of our New River Chapter!

* As we begin to stretch our legs and reacquaint ourselves with fellow New River Chapter members following the long, long months of social distancing, the Board of Directors have proposed many activities for us to again enjoy the camaraderie of like minded MOAA members.

* These include:

- A July evening for dining out with our spouses has been cancelled by COVID-19, so our planned return at the Winner's Circle in Jefferson, NC on July 14 is no longer possible!!

- The Annual Chapter picnic will be held on August 15, 2020 at the upper pavilion picnic area, Ashe County Park from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Always a wonderful time for members to join in an afternoon of fellowship and sharing of picnic fare...the Chapter supplies the burgers, dogs, buns and drinks. Members are asked to bring a side dish or dessert of their choosing, but more importantly, BRING A FRIEND OR GUEST, especially if they are in the field of MOAA eligible participants and wish to learn more about our chapter! It's always a good time and we are NEVER lacking in an abundance of goodies to enjoy!

- In September, we're trying something new in the way of a gathering to dine together - breakfast, not dinner! Plans are to enjoy "Breakfast on the Mountain" at the picnic pavilion atop the New River State Park beginning at 11:00 AM. There really is nothing better than enjoying fried or scrambled eggs, potato pancakes, regular and blueberry pancakes and all the trimmings cooked on an open grill, plus fresh fruits!! Don't even think to miss this opportunity! We look forward to having as many adventurous New River Chapter members as possible to be with us on our regular 3rd Tuesday of the month meeting date, or September 22nd. This is another great opportunity to BRING A GUEST OR FRIEND WHO ARE MOAA ELIGIBLE AND WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEW RIVER CHAPTER. Hope to see you there!

- On October 3, 2020, the New River Chapter will once again provide support to the New River Marathon as they hold their 26.2 mile marathon, 13.1 mile half-marathon and 4 mile run that had to be postponed from the originally scheduled June time frame due to the effects of the coronavirus. New River Chapter members are invited to join in on the fun of working the two watering stations on the course where we provide water, GatorAde and snacks to runners. It all starts around 0730 and is usually over by 1230 on the first Saturday in October. Stay tuned for calls from our BOD looking to have volunteers join with us...following the end of the race, we may plan to head somewhere and enjoy a late day lunch! Also, please pray for NO RAIN this year!

- Finally, our annual Holiday Gathering will be held from 2:00 - 5:00 PM on December 13, 2020 at the Arts County Arts Council Building in West Jefferson. There are a few new items for consideration with this year's event, e.g., we are holding our gathering on Sunday, vs. Saturday as there is already another holiday activity - the Festival of Trees - in the building on our regularly planned date, but that means that the site will already by decorated for us to enjoy!! Everyone is invited and please plan to bring a guest! Also, plan on bringing a dish of your own choosing - side dish or dessert. AND WHY NOT BRING A FRIEND OR GUEST? The Chapter will provide non-alcoholic fare, but attendees are welcome to bring their own wine or other spirits as they may choose. Finally, Barbara Sears has party game ideas for the event, so bring plenty of Christmas spirit!

All this information is provided as we move forward with planning for the remainder of 2020, but you should also plan on looking on the Calendar subcategory as we rapidly move ahead through the rest of the year.

Mr. William Lee Eller, “Lee”, served in the U. S. Army from 1944-1946 in the Infantry as a Rifleman. He had wanted to join the Navy, but was drafted into the Army. Enroute to Belgium on a troop ship he decided that he was certainly glad that he hadn’t joined the Navy! His company was 100 miles from Berlin when it was ordered to Czechoslovakia. The troops were not prepared for the weather they faced in Czechoslovakia- zero degree temperatures, snow and icy ground. They had no boots nor cold weather gear until General Patton ordered it for them. I asked him if there was a big celebration when he returned to the U. S. and he recalled that upon returning to Ft. Bragg in 1946 the local Coca-Cola bottling company gave each soldier a bottle of cold Coca-Cola to take on the train as they traveled home!

Thanks, Lee!

* Sponsored by the New River Chapter, MOAA, the compelling and inspirational true story of the heroic actions of Private First Class Desmond Doss, an Army Infantry Company Medical Aidman who was honored with the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Harry Truman for saving the lives of at least 75 wounded men on one day during the WWII battle for the Maeda Escarpment (Hacksaw Ridge) in Okinawa. The story is told by men whose lives Doss saved on that day. It is a dramatic story of courage, honor, personal conviction, faith, fierce patriotism and heroism during one of the bloodiest battles of WWII where expected survival was only 1 chance in 10.

* Colonel Charles Knapp, US Army, Retired and Ashe resident, a Consulting Producer during the making of the documentary and Consulting Producer of Hacksaw Ridge, a theatrical movie now in preproduction by Walden Media will offer an introduction and comments.

* This is special program being offered as a belated community recognition and celebration of Armed Forces Day, which occurs on Saturday, May 18, 2013.

* Eighteen youth cast members, in full period patriotic costume, of Ashe Counties Generation eXcellence will open the program with a musical tribute to America’s flag, the National Anthem and then pay honor to America’s Armed Forces with a dramatized medley of the service hymns of each branch of the uniformed services. Veterans in the audience will be paid special recognition.

(Pictures used with permission of desmonddoss.com)

Upper right: Corporal Desmond Doss, USA

Lower right: President Harry S. Truman presenting Corporal Desmond T. Doss with the Congressional Medal of Honor

The members of the New River Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America are pleased to host the showing of this documentary, produced and directed by Terry Benedict. The theatrical length documentary has earned 23 film festival awards and been shown on national television 12 times including the world-wide Armed Forces Network. It has been subtitled in four languages besides English and distributed widely in Asia and Europe. It is available at most video outlets, from desmonddoss.com and can be leased from NetFlix. The film is in demand by youth groups, Boy/Girl Scouts and school curricula on personal conscience, courage, leadership, patriotism and leadership. According to Col. Charles Knapp, U.S. Army Retired, local Ashe resident and sponsor of the film, “This film is a quintessential story of Duty, Honor, Country. It is the dramatic real life portrayal of what can happen to an ordinary life at the intersection of Personal Faith and Committed Patriotism.”

President Truman was heard to remark when pinning the Medal of Honor on Corporal Doss’ uniform, “. . . because of what you have done for your comrades and the country, this act gives me more pleasure than being elected President of our country . . .”

Not all heros carry a weapon. Doss didn’t. Some carry faith. Doss did.

Knapp is Chairperson of the Desmond Doss Council of the Georgia Cumberland Association in Calhoun, GA which is responsible for protecting the integrity of the Doss life story, film and book copyrights, and the extensive Doss collection of memorabilia on loan and in several university archives.

“Doss was a sought after speaker to youth groups and traveled the world. He would hold an audience of middle schoolers spell bound on normally dry topics of character development, personal faith and ethics and get a standing ovation at the end,” says Knapp who had known Doss for many years. “Roads, bridges, VFW halls and American Legion posts carry his name. His likeness in bronze can be found in veteran’s parks. The most notable is his full size bronze figure in the Georgia Hall of Patriotism in Centennial Square in Atlanta, GA."

Open the download to read a flyer about the 2023 Blue Ridge Honor Flight for all eligible Ashe County veterans.

Also attached is the application for a veteran to apply for the Honor Flight.