The World Premiere of the play “Downrange: Voices from the Homefront” in March 2016 in Fayetteville received such rave reviews that the need for a video version of the play became immediately apparent.

In response to a solicitation from the Cape Fear Regional Theater to become one of five co-producers of the video production the chapter embraced the project. President Chavez presented a $1,000 check on behalf of the Cape Fear Chapter to Tom Quaintance, Artistic Director of the CFRT; also present were Cape Fear Chapter members Willie Wright and Carol Ivey, both involved in the effort; and, Beth Desloges, Managing Director of the CFRT.

The video was produced for wider viewing by Fort Bragg soldiers, families and leaders; and, perhaps for Army-wide dissemination. The Cape Fear Chapter, MOAA is listed in the “credits” as a co-producer.

Ms. Martha Brown, Director, Army Soldier and Family Assistance Center; Mr. Tony Pugh, a center staff member; and, Major Terry Redd, Executive Officer, Warrior Transition Battalion, Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg accept a donation of thirty $25 commissary gift cards worth $750 from President Chavez on behalf of the Cape Fear Chapter.

The gift cards, redeemable at the post commissaries, are given to soldiers and their families as needed while assigned to the Warrior Transition Battalion, undergoing medical treatment, evaluation, and/or rehabilitation.

The Cape Fear Chapter donated $600 to the Fort Bragg Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart to sponsor a wounded warrior home for Christmas. Presenting the check to the soldier on behalf of the chapter is 2nd Vice President George Blanc. Two officers from the MOPH Chapter witness the presentation.

The Cape Fear Chapter made its annual donation to the Fort Bragg Fisher House at their new home. Art Rodriguez, Chapter 1st Vice President presents the $500 check to Ms. Lorie Southerland, Director of the House.

See acknowledgement at download below.

CFC Personal Affairs Officer Ralph Hinrichs, presents a donation of $500 from the Cape Fear Chapter to Mr. Phil Harris, Executive Director, Highlands Chapter of the American Red Cross. Two Highlands Chapter associates joined the presentation.

President Chavez, accompanied by his wife Maria, presents Ms. Martha Brown, Director, Army Soldier and Family Assistance Center $500 in $25 grocery gift cards redeemable at the post commissaries as a donation from the Cape Fear Chapter.

The gift cards are given to wounded warriors and their families as needed while assigned to the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Bragg undergoing medical treatment, evaluation, and/or rehabilitation.

Representing the Warrior Transition Battalion is its Command Sergeant Major Scott Painter.

See acknowledgement at download below.

The Cape Fear Chapter donated $1,200 to the Fort Bragg Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart to sponsor two wounded warriors home for Christmas.

During a ceremony held in the Wounded Warrior Transition Battalion, Womack Army Medical Center, George Blanc, 2nd Vice President presented $600 checks to CW2 William Martin, IV and Staff Sergeant Warren R. Davies, III.

Both CWO Martin originally from South Carolina, and Sergeant Davies from North Carolina were wounded while involved in combat operations in Afghanistan.

Both Purple Heart recipients have over 20 years of military service and will soon be retired from active duty as a result of their wounds.

Art Rodriguez, 1st Vice President presents a $500 donation check to Ms. Renee Lane, Director of the Fort Bragg USO on behalf of the Cape Fear Chapter, MOAA.

See acknowledgement at download below.

Art Rodriguez, 1st Vice President of the Cape Fear Chapter presents a donation to the Fort Bragg Fisher House on behalf of the Chapter. Accepting the $500 check is Ms. Lorie Southerland, Director of the House.

See acknowledgement at download below.

Ralph Hinrichs, Chapter Officer, presents a $500 check to Mr. Phil Harris, Executive Director, Highlands Chapter of the American Red Cross as a donation from the Cape Fear Chapter, MOAA.

See acknowledgement at download below.

The beautiful memorial wreath presented by the Cape Fear Chapter at the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Freedom Memorial Park, Fayetteville on 25 May 2015 was made and donated by Linda Sanderson, proprietor of It'z All About You, a gift store located in Eastover.

Mrs. Sanderson refused to accept any payment for the wreath, stating that it was her contribution to honor those who gave their all for the freedoms she and all of us enjoy. To recognize her generosity, President Chavez presented Mrs. Sanderson with a certificate of appreciation.

This is not the first time that Mrs. Sanderson has expressed her patriotism, she has been a loyal sponsor of our annual ROTC Scholarship Fund fundraising golf tournament for several years.

The North Carolina National Guard Military Academy located on Fort Bragg, held its graduation for Officer Candidate Class 57 at the John F. Kennedy Auditorium on August 22, 2015. Twelve candidates were commissioned as second lieutenants in the North Carolina National Guard, they were: Rusty Lee Barnett, Madrain Suwanna Bryan, Issiah Campbell Jr., Brendan Scott Carr, Lucas Aaron Hill, John Allen Johnson Jr., Joseph Ngari Muraguri, Lyabode Humani Ottun, Victoria Christina Parsells, David William Predmore, Christian Stephen Wallace and Mathew Waytt Walters.

The ceremony was hosted by Colonel Manley James, the 139th Regimental Commander. The graduation address was delivered by Brigadier General John A. Byrd, the North Carolina Assistant Adjutant General. The graduation was well attended by the family and friends of the newly commissioned officers.

Cape Fear Chapter 3rd Vice President, Bill Dadek, met with the 12 candidates at the Academy the day prior to the graduation, and presented each of them with a set of gold bars, a Velcro 2LT insignia, a pocket copy of the US Constitution, and a free one year membership in MOAA.

President Chavez presents a $1,000 grant to the Navy JROTC unit at Cape Fear High School to partially fund their transportation expenses to their summer training camp at Marine Corps Air Station/Camp Lejeune, NC from 1 to 8 August 2015.

Cadet Haylee Neal, this year's recipient of the MOAA Medal, and the unit's new cadet commanding officer accepted the grant. Several of the cadets witnessed the presentation on the campus of Cape Fear High School.

JROTC support grants were also approved as follows:

$1,238 to the Air Force JROTC unit at Terry Sanford High School, and $875 to the Air Force JROTC unit at E.E. Smith High School both in Fayetteville, NC to fund attendance of cadets at the Cadet Officer Leadership School hosted by Fayetteville State University.

$500 to Hoke High School in Raeford, NC to fund attendance of Army ROTC cadets at the Cadet Leadership Challenge Summer Camp at Fort Jackson, SC.

$500 to West Bladen High School Army JROTC in Bladenboro, NC to purchase signs for their physical fitness trail constructed by the unit’s cadets on the school campus.

Letters of acknowledgement and thanks are at download below.

President Chavez presents Ms. Martha Brown, Director, Army Soldier and Family Assistance Center $500 in $25 grocery gift cards redeemable at the post commissaries as a donation from the Cape Fear Chapter. The gift cards are given to wounded warriors and their families as needed while assigned to the Wounded Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Bragg undergoing medical treatment, evaluation, and/or rehabilitation. Assisting Ms. Brown in accepting the gift cards is Sergeant Hughett representing the wounded warriors and their families who may be assisted through this program.

See acknowledgement at download below.

The City of Fayetteville and its Freedom Memorial Park Steering Committee are still soliciting donations in support of the public park in honor of the men and women of the U.S. military. The $1.5 million project is being funded through private donations.

Pavers. For a contribution of $100 or more, you will receive a 4” x 8” brick paver that will be placed in the park and engraved with three lines or less at 16 characters per line. For a contribution of $250 or more, you will receive an 8” x 16” granite paver that will be placed in the park engraved with six lines or less at 16 characters per line. Download form below to submit paver contributions.

There are other ways of making donations, please visit the park's website at www.freedommemorialpark.com

The CFC sponsored two wounded warriors from the Wounded Transition Battalion at Fort Bragg as part of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) “Home for Christmas Project.”

President Juan Chavez presented a $1,200 check on behalf of the CFC to LTC (Ret) Art Macaltao, the Commander of the Fort Bragg Chapter of the MOPH who in turn, asked President Chavez to present the individual $600 checks directly to two wounded warriors.

In the top photo, President Chavez presents a $600 check to 1LT Mathew Long of Garrettsville, Ohio. Lieutenant Long was wounded on May 21, 2014 in southern Afghanistan while assigned to the 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division.

In the bottom photo, President Chavez presents a $600 check to SFC Darron Adams of Fayetteville, NC who is recovering from wounds incurred on October 14, 2007 in Afghanistan while assigned to the 508th STB, 82nd Airborne Division. SGC Adams was hit by an RPG and suffered massive wounds on his right leg.