Continuing a proud history of serving its military community, UNC Wilmington’s Office of Military Affairs hosted a celebration ceremony at Veterans Hall on Thursday, September 15, 2022. Veterans Hall, a 145,000-square-foot facility, is currently the only building in the United States located on a university or college campus named in honor of all veterans – past, present and future.

MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins, USAF (Ret) offers his personal thanks to all MOAA volunteer leaders as National Volunteer Month winds down.

The inaugural Honor Flight of the Cape Fear Area is now in the history books. Several SENCLAND Chapter members traveled on this Honor Flight to Washington DC memorials as veterans, coordinators, and guardians.

If you are interested in traveling on the next Honor Flight, click the link below for more information.

Click Downloads to view the Arlington National Cemetery Newsletter. It contains interesting information about Arlington National Cemetery, origins of Decoration Day, preparations for Memorial Day, proposed eligibility changes, and other articles.

Have you had that sit down with your spouse yet? It’s winter. It’s the first couple months of a new year. Make a date night with your sweetheart and do the following:

• Gather important papers: DD214, wills, living will, durable power of attorney, insurance policies, passwords, birth/marriage certificates, etc.
• Check all signature cards.
• Review all insurance policies.
• Make sure utilities are in BOTH names.
• Open a credit card account in a spouse's name.
• Review all investments with a financial adviser.
• Insure bank accounts are accessible.
• Gather all passwords in one place.

Sandi Adams, our Surviving Spouse Liaison, is available to answer questions or offer information about how to best prepare for "til death do us part."

We would like to thank everyone who donated to the scholarship/outreach programs this year. Please consider a donation to these worthwhile projects now. We are always accepting applications for out-reach support. Thank you again to all our generous contributors.

The application for scholarships will be updated soon and distributed to the schools.

LTC LeeRoy Hanna, Leadership/Scholarship Chair

Two of our members: LCDR Frank Roberts, USCG (ret) and CAPT Guy Simmons, USN (ret) volunteered to be our Chapter’s liaison to this wonderful program. There are specific details under Chapter Outreach Programs.

Nonprofit Veterans Memorial Reef honors veterans while helping the environment. The new Wrightsville Beach Magazine has a nice article about the Veterans Memorial Reef that Chapter President Joe Irrera was instrumental in developing and making happen.

Please click on the link below to open a 3 minute video tribute from family to Jim Carper. Memorial Service was conducted by Rev. John McIntyre, Pastor Wrightsville Baptist Church on October 2 and was followed with full military honors by the NC National Honor Guard at Bradley Creek Cemetery.

The Chapter offers the opportunity for members and their spouses to purchase engraved plastic nametags. The cost of the nametags is $15, the style and size is shown in the image, and will have a magnetic clasp.

Improved Military ID Cards now available by appointment at MCAS New River and Camp Lejeune

[RELATED: ID Cards: What You Need to Know]

A retired military ID card is issued to military retirees and eligible family members. Eligible family members must renew their ID card periodically, usually every four years.

An extra incentive for veterans to retire in North Carolina

By Mary Helen Jones Wilmington

The SENCLand MOAA (Military Officers Association of America) Chapter held its annual JROTC Scholarship presentations at Long Leaf Park on Friday, June 4, 2021. Eight graduating seniors were presented scholarship valued at $900 each. Students receiving scholarships were Austin Rheuby (South Brunswick HS), Jalen Faulk (Whiteville HS), Nicole Waterbury (West Brunswick HS), Mary von Kolnitz ( JT Hoggard HS), Ashton Warren (JT Hoggard HS), Trinity George (Whiteville HS), Andrew Powers (North Brunswick HS), and Alexandra Rupkalvis (South Brunswick HS). Seven students are enrolled in their respective JROTC programs and Alexandra is a military dependent. Austin Rheuby plans to attend VMI and major in physics. He will also shoot on the college rifle team. Jalen Faulk will attend NC A&T and major in criminal justice. Nicole Waterbury will attend Barton College with an undeclared major. She will also be playing on the lacrosse team and plans to take Air Force ROTC. Mary von Kolnitz will attend two years at Cape Fear Community College and then go to North Carolina State University to major in Agriculture. Ashton Warren will attend East Carolina University and major in engineering. He plans to take Army ROTC also. Trinity George will attend North Carolina Central and major in psychology. Andrew Powers will attend East Carolina University with an undeclared major. Alexandra Rupkalvis will attend UNC-Chapel Hill and major in nursing.

This is the 20th year that the SENCLand MOAA Chapter has presented scholarships to graduating seniors. Eighty-nine students have received scholarships totaling $110,700 during this time.

2021 SENCLAND MOAA Scholarship recipients. Shown left to right are (front row): BG (Ret) James Carper, USA, Chapter President; Jalen Faulk (Whiteville HS); Mary von Kolnitz (JT Hoggard HS); Trinity George (Whiteville HS); and Alexandra Rupkalvis (South Brunswick HS). Shown left to right in back row are: Austin Rheuby (South Brunswick HS; Nicole Waterbury (West Brunswick HS); Ashton Warren (JT Hoggard HS); LTC (Ret) Lee Hanna, USA, Scholarship Chair; and Andrew Powers (North Brunswick HS).