The Robert F. DeMeter Chapter Service Award was established in 1998 in memory of the late LTC (Ret) Robert F. DeMeter, USMC, a former Chapter President (1989), to annually recognize a chapter member for outstanding service to the chapter, either as an extraordinary single act or achievement, or sustained meritorious service to the chapter over a period of time.

The award is the most prestigious award the Chapter can bestow upon one of its members. The award consists of a certificate and a rotating trophy, which the recipient retains for a period of one year. Moreover, recipients of this coveted award are immortalized in the historical archives of the chapter.

Nominations for the award are being solicited from the general membership. Please submit in hardcopy or email to President Williamson NLT 28 February 2025.

The following officers were elected by the general membership to serve 2-year terms in leadership positions indicated effective January 2025.

COL (Ret) Gregory (Greg) K. Williamson, USA - President

MAJ (Ret) George Bond, USA - 1st Vice President

COL (Ret) William (Bill) H. Bell, II, USA - 2nd Vice President

LTC (Ret) Martin (Marty) C. Williams, USA - 3rd Vice President

CPT (Ret) David S. Vroom, USA - Treasurer

COL (Ret) Steven D. Cage, USA - Secretary

Congratulations are extended to these members who volunteered to lead our chapter for the next two years. They will be officially installed on 11 January 2025 during the biennial Installation Meeting/Dinner at the Iron Mike Conference Center, Fort Liberty.

The general membership voted on 16 November 2024 to maintain the dues structure at $20 for regular members/$10 for surviving spouses for the coming year. Accordingly, the Membership Renewal Campaign for 2025 is underway with the goal of achieving 100% retention.

We are asking our members to submit their renewals ASAP. The quickest and easiest way to renew is online. The alternative is to remit by USPS by mailing a check payable to “CFC MOAA” to “CFC MOAA, P.O. Box 53621, Fayetteville, NC 28305.”

A significant number of chapter members have not renewed for 2024 . If you fall in this category, please bring your account up to date by remitting for both 2024/2025; call Secretary Steve Cage at (910) 988-9345 if not sure.

One of the criteria for earning a 5-Star Chapter award is to achieve 95% or better retention, you can contribute to that achievement by renewing your membership now.

A rough looking crew of CFC volunteers clad in construction work garb and MOAA Team t-shirts assembled at a Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity Veterans Build (FAHFHVB) worksite in Fayetteville, NC on a brisk autumn morning to repair and paint the home of a US Army veteran.

Watch a video showing members at work (Click HERE).

The project, an initiative undertaken by CFC COL (Ret) Greg Williamson and funded with a $3,000 MOAA Community Outreach Grant, was a first for the Cape Fear Chapter which has committed to sponsor FAHBHVB on a regular basis in support of veterans in our community.

The idea morphed into reality because of a collaboration between the Cape Fear Chapter headed by COL (Ret) Greg Williamson, and FAHFHVB headed by CW4 (Ret) Richard “Rick” Callaway its Chief of Operations and a newly recruited CFC member.

The Cape Fear Chapter volunteers in alphabetical order were: Tim Atkinson, Eli Ballard, Bill Bell, George Bond, Bruce Brown, Steve Cage, Rick Callaway, Juan Chavez, Bob Covalucci, Jerry Croll, Rich Underwood, Marty Williams, and Greg Williamson.

This year’s golf tournament played at Gates Four Golf and Country Club on 28 September was a resounding success. Our heartfelt thanks to all our commercial sponsors for their continued loyalty and support, to the players and active-duty soldiers who made the day special, and to our chapter members who contributed to this annual fund raising event.

The following is a list of all sponsors and donors.

Prime Sponsor

Mr. Steve LaHam, President & CEO

Anfinsen Plastic Molding & Assembly

Major Material Sponsors

AAFMAA Wealth Management Trust, LLC

Healy Wholesale Company, Inc.

Meinhardt Family

Rogers & Breece, Inc.

Hole and/or Soldier Sponsors

COL (Ret) & Mrs. David Baggett

COL (Ret) & Mrs. Eli Ballard

COL (Ret) & Mrs. William H. Bell, II

LTC (Ret) & Mrs. David Beshlin

MAJ (Ret) George Bond

Brown & Associates Investment Services

COL (Ret) & Mrs. Steven Cage

Cape Fear Cardiology, PA

Carolina Specialties of NC, Inc.

COL (Ret) & Mrs. Juan I. Chavez

LTC (Ret) & Mrs. David C. Cheney

Chrishon Enterprise, LLC

MAJ (Ret) Gerald Croll

Cruz Masters, LLC

COL (Ret) & Mrs. Tad D. Davis

LtCol (Ret) & Mrs. Dan Dederick

COL & Mrs. Stanley D. Dodson

LTC (Ret) & Mrs. Thomas Donnelly

COL (Ret) & Mrs. George M. Dudley

COL (Ret) & Mrs. John P. Dunigan

Mrs. Mary Eidman

Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity

Fort Liberty Federal Credit Union

Mrs. Elizabeth Foster

COL (Ret) & Mrs. Ronnie Foxx

LTC (Ret) & Mrs. Robert T. Garman

COL (Ret) Elizabeth B. Goolsby

LTC (Ret) John W. Hazlett

Mrs. Dorothy Hinrichs

Hinkamp Jewelers

Horne Brothers Communications, Inc.

Mrs. Lois Ives

Mrs. Carol Ivey

Jernigan-Warren, Inc.

Kalli Ziegler Properties

Lafayette Ford-Lincoln

Lakewood HS AJROTC

Mrs. Michelle Lame

GEN (Ret) & Mrs. Dan K. McNeill

Mr. & Mrs. Carl Meinhardt

LTC (Ret) & Mrs. Hans Meinhardt

Metz Auto Glass

Mrs. Dorothy B. Miller

BG (Ret) Joseph L. Nagel

COL (Ret) Deena Pittman

Powers-Swain Chevrolet, Inc.

COL (Ret) & Mrs. Deogracia Quinones, MD

Mrs. Barbara Raizen

Rhudy’s, Inc.

COL (Ret) & Mrs. Arturo Rodriguez

COL (Ret) & Mrs. Eddie Rosado

LTC (Ret) & Mrs. Richard H. Shereff, MD

Ms. Christine A. Spring

Mrs. Pat Stang

Superior Bakery

LTC (Ret) & Mrs. John Szoka

LtCol (Ret) & Mrs. Joseph Tichich

Mr. Pete Tilton

COL (Ret) & Mrs. Richard A. Underwood

Mrs. Sarah Volkmann

CPT (Ret) & Mrs. David S. Vroom

LTC (Ret) & Mrs. Martin C. Williams

Chap (COL)(Ret) & Mrs. Gregory K. Williamson

Bill & Connie Wink

COL (Ret) & Mrs. Willie Wright

Cash Donors

LTC (Ret) & Mrs. George W. Glann

Mrs. Erika Meinhardt

Ms. Lise Meinhardt

MAJ (Ret) Warren R. O’Brien

MAJ (Ret) & Mrs. Robert S. Tiffany, III

Prize & Giveaways Donors

Anderson Creek Golf & Country Club

Baywood Golf Club

Carolina Lakes Golf Club

Cypress Lakes Golf Club

Gates Four Golf & Country Club

Logan’s Roadhouse Steak House

Meinhardt Family

Sandhills Trolley Company

316 Oyster Bar

Several chapter members were recognized for special acts and/or contributions to the chapter during CY 2023 at the Annual Awards and Recognition Luncheon on 23 March 2024.

Colonel Tad Davis was presented the Robert F. DeMeter Chapter Service Award for his sustained outstanding service to the chapter the past two years.

Other chapter members were awarded chapter coffee mugs for the following:

Bruce Brown – For his consistent service as a MOAA Leadership Medal Presenter as well as a loyal business (Brown & Associates Investments Services) sponsor of the chapter.

Tad and Diane Davis – For handling the chapter’s “Evening at the Ballpark” event at Segra Stadium last year.

Don Gersh – For serving on the chapter’s ROTC Scholarships Review Committee for several years.

John Hazlett – For exemplary attendance at chapter events.

Art Macaltao – For his consistent service as a MOAA Leadership Medal Presenter. (Not present to accept award.)

Steve Mannell – For his loyal support as a business (AAFMAA) sponsor of the chapter.

Charles Pimble – For his staunch and generous support of the chapter’s ROTC Scholarship Fund. (Not present to accept award.)

Art & Argie Rodriguez – For serving in the Programs Committee responsible for table decorations for several years until 2023. Art is also recognized for conducting the annual reconciliation of the chapter’s financial books for several years through 2023.

Teresa Vaughn – For serving as the chapter’s check-in receptionist at all chapter events last year.

David Vroom – For exemplary attendance at chapter events in 2023.

Ira Watkins – For serving as the chapter’s photographer at chapter events in 2023.

The Cape Fear Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America celebrates the anniversary of its founding on 22 March 2024 completing 63 years of continuous dedicated service to our nation.

The Cape Fear Chapter’s long record of exemplary service to the surrounding military community representing active duty, reserve component, veterans and ROTC/JROTC is widely acknowledged and praised.

The Chapter’s steadfast support of MOAA’s military advocacy mission and legislative goals year in and year out has been instrumental in the passage of significant legislation benefiting our all-volunteer force, our military retirees and our veterans.

Every Chapter member can be justifiably proud of being a part of this great organization that remains true to the MOAA motto "Never Stop Serving". Happy Anniversary!

Review the Chapter’s history of its founding by clicking on the History tab below.

The streak stays intact! For the eighth year in a row, the Cape Fear Chapter was awarded a MOAA 5-Star Levels of Excellence Award for the year 2021.

This is a most remarkable achievement in that the chapter operated with half of its leadership positions vacant all year. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who went above and beyond to make things happen and keep the string of excellence unbroken.

Congratulations and thanks to all our chapter members who so loyally supported everything the chapter undertook during the year. It was a total team effort!

President Underwood will pin the 5-Star medallion on the Chapter colors awards streamer at our annual meeting on 19 November 2022.

For the ninth consecutive year, our chapter has repeated as a 5-Star Colonel Marvin Harris Communications Award winner in the website and electronic newsletter platform categories. We can all pad ourselves on the back for another noteworthy achievement.

The streak continues. For the seventh year in a row, the Cape Fear Chapter was awarded a MOAA 5-Star Levels of Excellence Award for the year 2020. The lion’s share of the credit goes to past Chapter President Ira Watkins who displayed exemplary leadership in keeping the chapter together and functioning during one of the most tumultuous years in our history. Thanks Ira, for your leadership, tenacity and unwavering dedication.

Our current Chapter President Rich Underwood will pin the 5-Star medallion on the Chapter colors awards streamer at our annual meeting on 13 November 2021.

Congratulations to all!

Our chapter was founded on the 22nd of March 1961 at Fort Bragg and became the first affiliate of The Retired Officers Association (TROA) in North Carolina. On January 1, 2003, the National organization changed its name from The Retired Officers Association (TROA) to the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).

To commemorate the anniversary, the chapter received a handsome certificate (at download bar at right) from National MOAA accompanied by a personal note from Lt Gen Dana T. Atkins, USAF (Ret) President and CEO. The note reads as follows:

“Dear Colonel Underwood,

President and CEO”

We belatedly observed our anniversary during the May 7, 2021 luncheon at the Mash House Restaurant being the first opportunity to meet in person this year.

It is my fervent hope that our chapter will continue doing great work in support of our military, our veterans, and our future military leaders for many more years to come.

MOAA National announced the 2020 Colonel Marvin Harris Communications Award winners, and I am proud to announce that the Cape Fear Chapter maintained its string of now eight consecutive years as a dual 5-Star winner intact.

Congratulations to us for repeating as MOAA communications award winner in the website and eNewsletter platform categories.

All of us may add another feather to our caps!

There is a dire need for volunteers to step up and fill some of the vacant positions on the chapter’s Executive Board. Some of these positions have been vacant for over 2 years, and some have been filled by the same person for as long as 8 years and new blood is needed.

While all the positions are important (they would not exist otherwise) some are more critical than others. The following positions need to be filled post haste:

Surviving Spouse Liaison – A must-have position, a spoke person and advocate for our 25 or so surviving spouses. The position has been vacant for 6 years.

Personal Affairs Officer – Another must-have position to advise and assist our members regarding benefits, entitlements, and survivor’s assistance. Position has been vacant for 6 years, but but the duties have been executed by the Chapter Chaplain as an additional duty.

Transition Liaison Officer – This position has the potential to be a great recruiting tool for the chapter. Active duty officers transitioning to civilian life can be attracted to a chapter that offers an effective transition program. This position has been vacant for over 4 years and is being filled by George Bond as an additional duty.

Newsletter Editor – An organization must be able to communicate with its members to be successful. A newsletter is one of the most important and effective tools to stay in touch. Don Gersh was the Editor for more than 6 years until he had to lay down his quill because of health reasons. The last issue of the Infogram was published in January 2021.

Any of the above positions can be filled by a regular member or a spouse thereof, or a surviving spouse. Most of the work can be performed from home via telephone and computer. The Executive Board meets physically at the Fort Liberty Iron Mike Conference Center on the first Tuesday of each month, and meetings normally last approximately 2 hours.

The continued shortage of officers to lead the chapter forward constitutes an existential threat to the chapter. We simply cannot continue to keep the chapter afloat like this. We need an infusion of new blood, new ideas and new energy.

As we observe the 64th anniversary of the chapter’s founding, the first affiliate in the state, we should keep in mind all those who came before us and who worked so hard to make the chapter what it is. It is our collective responsibility to keep the organization viable for future generations of military officers.

Our prayers for a chapter treasurer were answered, Jerry Croll answered the call and no one was more relieved than President Rich Underwood. Jerry will fill the large void created with the unexpected death of Ralph Hinrichs on 23 February 2021.

President Rich Underwood officially installed Jerry at the monthly Board of Directors meeting on 6 April 2021 by administering the oath of office in the presence of the Board of Directors.

We all owe a great debt of gratitude to Jerry for stepping up to the plate. We wish him the best of success in a position of paramount importance to our organization.

We need someone to volunteer to be our Newsletter Editor. Don Gersh who has been our editor for the past 6+ years can no longer do it because of health problems. The January 2021 issue was the last one Don could put together and unless we find someone to takeover, it will sadly be the last.

Wishfully, anyone who had prior experience in editing a publication at any level, e.g., high school, college, military, etc., would be ideal, but practically, we are asking for any literate person who would just like to help and has the enthusiasm (and a computer) to take on the challenge and make this experience a fulfilling one.

The chapter newsletter “Infogram” has been a monthly digital publication, disseminated to the general membership. The software program “Art Explosion Publisher Pro 3” is currently used to compile the publication, but the editor will have wide discretion as to what tools he or she prefers to use.

Anyone interested in taking on this job is requested to call President Rich Underwood at (910) 309-3568.

It was an inspiring moment when music stars Eric Church and Jazmine Sullivan concluded their "The Star-Spangled Banner" duet to fireworks and a history-making flyover: a trifecta of the B-2 Spirit, B-1B Lancer and the B-52H Stratofortress in formation. Their designations added up to 55 in honor of the 55th Super Bowl.

The formation of bombers was a first for such an event and was led by Capt. Sarah Kociuba, one of only 10 female B-2 pilots.

This demonstration of America's precision in defense was awe-inspiring, but you would not know it from commentary and lack of acknowledgment on air.

[RELATED AT MILITARY.COM: How the Air Force Pulled Off the First-Ever Super Bowl Flyover with All 3 Bombers ]

CBS and the NFL failed to give the occasion its due. If you blinked, you might have missed it. What also was missed was the opportunity to spotlight the planning and training to make such moments special to the American public and to international communities enjoying the big game. There is also the significant recruiting opportunity to support the all-volunteer force.

The military-civilian divide is only getting greater, and CBS helped widen the gap by missing the moment. This follows a fall game where Fox commentators Joe Buck and Troy Aikman lamented about flyovers' "cost of taxpayer dollars." These comments, which appeared in leaked audio, were shrugged off as sarcasm.

The Super Bowl's historic flyover could have been an opportunity to set the record straight. No shortage of information was advanced from the Air Force and reports from local stations and networks.

While the Air Force does perform nearly 1,000 flyovers per year, they double as crucial training for all the airmen and other services.

As a former commander of forces and a past aerial demonstration team member of the Air Force Thunderbirds, I can attest that the demonstration flights are rigorous and demanding. While keeping skills razor sharp, they also engage the public and inspire others to serve.

If the networks and the NFL are going to treat these flyovers as just another routine form of pre-game entertainment, there's a significant lost opportunity in providing a catalyst for one of our nation's sons or daughters to consider serving -- just like Kociuba, who as a young girl, was awestruck at the sight of a B-2 bomber at the Rose Bowl Parade.

Finally, such coverage fails to recognize and thank all those serving in our military for defending our country.

After the Super Bowl, I felt a bittersweet mix of pride in our country and sadness about misperceptions about the role of the military. Our men and women who serve in the uniformed services, our veterans, their families and survivors certainly deserve better.