The LanternPalm Beach-Martin Counties Chapter

Military Officers Association of Americawww.moaafl.org/chapters/PBMCC

December 2020 IssuePresident’s Message

Herb Sennett, LTC, CH, USAR (RET.)

Merry Christmas! (Sort of)

The year was 1954. I was nine years old. Christmas brought a new recording by Frank Sinatra of the traditional Christmas song, “White Christmas.” Although a beautiful rendition, it never attained the popularity of Bing Crosby’s original recording done in 1942.

The B-side of that record (remember those???), was a brand new song written especially for Frank Sinatra by two of America’s great songwriters, Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne. That song we know today as “The Christmas Waltz.”

I would love to write that “The Christmas Waltz” was an instant success. It was not. Although numerous artists have recorded it as well (I think they call that a “cover”), the recording that made the song a Christmas “classic” was done by Harry Connick, Jr. in 2003. My personal favorite recording of “The Christmas Waltz” is from the album, Christmas with the Pops by Toni Tennille and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra (2006).

Although this topic seems a bit out of place for a local newsletter for the Palm Beach and Martin Counties Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America,

it seems to me to be a most appropriate topic for the year 2020. But this is the year that has been frought with such terrible news from nearly every corner of the world as most people sit at home patiently waiting for this year to please END! And why is that? Because we aren’t allowed to do much of anything else.

My intent is to point to some joy around us. So, in the spirit of Christmas’ past, I give you the lyrics of one of the “happiest” songs about Christmas that I know. And present these words with my hope that 2021 will be nothing like 2020. Read and enjoy!

“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” (1963) – Edward Pola and George Wyle (first recorded by Any Williams for The Andy Williams Christmas Album.

It's the most wonderful time of the yearWith the kids jingle bellingAnd everyone telling you be of good cheerIt's the most wonderful time of the year

It's the hap-happiest season of allWith those holiday greetings and gay happy meetingsWhen friends come to callIt's the hap-happiest season of all

There'll be parties for hostingMarshmallows for toastingAnd caroling out in the snowThere'll be scary ghost storiesAnd tales of the gloriesOf Christmases long, long ago

It's the most wonderful time of the yearThere'll be much mistltoeingAnd hearts will be glowingWhen love ones are near

OfficersPresident ………………..LTC Herb Sennett, USA “Beverly” 561-252-3263 herb@herbsennett.com

1st Vice President ………..Open

2nd Vice President….MAJ Jacqui Morris-Hayes, USA 561-440-0852 islandjacqui@gmail.com

Treasurer ………………….Col Tom Choate, USMC 301-661-7650 Choatetw9@gmail.com

Secretary ………………..Col Paul Loschiavo, USMC “Jill” 561-745-1434 losch@comcast.net

Immediate Past President..Col Paul Loschiavo, USMC “Jill” 561-745-1434 losch@comcast.net

DirectorsNewsletter Editor ….Lt Col Albert (Skip) Barnes USAF “Carol” 561-512-5744 atlspirit@hotmail.com

VA Hospital Liaison….Col Robert Seh, Jr, USAF “Dawn” 410-725-0810 bobsehesq@aol.com

JROTC ……………MAJ Jacqui Morris-Hayes, Maj, USA 561-440-0852 islandjacqui@gmail.com

Personal Affairs ………..…open

Legislative Affairs ………COL Paul Loschiavo, USMC “Jill” 561-745-1434 losch@comcast.net

Membership ……………..LTC Marc Oliveri, USAR “Jenine” 561-753-7565 ltcoliveri@aol.com

Programs ……………...LTC Marc Oliveri, USAR “Jenine” 561-753-7565 ltcoliveri@aol.com

Communications ……….….youChairpersons:

Dinner Greeters & 50/50 …..LTC Ray Elderd, USA “Agnes” 561-351-3318 rkelderdjr@earthlink.net

Ladies Lunch Coordinator & Surviving Spouse Liaison Dee Hembree, & Dorothy DeRuve

Directory Publisher …Col Paul Loschiavo

Nametags ….Ann Harshman

Here are a couple great links that will be worth your time to explore. They will take you directly to MOAA National for legislative updates and to

the Florida MOAA Council Newsletters.

Go directly to MOAA and check out the interesting legislative updates:

http://www.moaa.org

Read our Florida Council Newsletters:http://www.moaafl.org/Communique/Default.aspx

Get your MOAA News!MOAANews

It's the most wonderful time of the year

There'll be parties for hostingMarshmallows for toastingAnd caroling out in the snowThere'll be scary ghost storiesAnd tales of the gloriesOf Christmases long, long ago

It's the most wonderful time of the yearThere'll be much mistltoeingAnd hearts will be glowingWhen love ones are nearIt's the most wonderful timeYes, the most wonderful timeOh, the most wonderful timeOf the year

http://www.herbsennett.comhttp://islandjacqui@gmail.comhttp://Choatetw@yahoo.comhttp://Choatetw@yahoo.comhttp://losch@comcast.nethttp://atlspirit@hotmail.comhttp://bobsehesq@aol.comhttp://islandjacqui@gmail.comhttp://rkelderdjr@earthlink.nethttp://www.moaa.orghttp://www.moaafl.org/Communique

Evelyn Henry is a member of our chapter, as well as the Palm Beach Area Chapter, just south of us. A retired Air Force nurse, she is the one-man... er... one-woman electronic town crier for all things military or VA related, to a huge email list. I’m on that list. Early in October, she sent me an email. The Nursing School at FAU has a grant to train veterans as nurses and they are doing so. The director of the nursing school was looking for mentors for the veteran students in the program. Evelyn put me in contact with Marilyn Ray, who is a professor emeritus at the nursing school. Like many academics, Marilyn has about seven abbreviated titles after her name, the only one of which I’ve heard of is PhD. She has one additional, that I do recognize - Col USAF Nurse Corps. I connected with Marilyn and the result is the ad at the back of the Lantern looking for mentors. In corresponding back and forth between Evelyn, Marilyn, and me, one of them (maybe both...) asked if I’d be a mentor. As a fire-breathing Marine Corps paratrooper pilot forward-air-controller, I was unenthusiastic about trying to mentor a nursing student. Admittedly, I have a lot of experience with nurses, but it’s all as a patient. I mumbled electronically and politely declined. About two weeks ago, I got another email from Marilyn. She has a Marine student. Would I be a mentor? Thinking about it for at least two seconds, I responded “I’m in!” She sent me the email address of Rolando Cabezas. I sent him an email

introducing myself, and telling him right-off-the-bat that we are both Marines.... it’s “Paul” and not “Colonel.” I told him that though I am not a nurse, I have rather extensive medical experience over the last four years, and it was a nurse who my wife credits with saving me when I was in the ICU for a month. In other words, I like nurses. In less than two hours, my phone rings. It’s Rolando. What... a great guy! He served four years as a 0311 Marine Corps Infantry Rifleman, including two tours in Afghanistan. (You cannot get more grunt than that!). Finishing his active duty commitment, he returned to civilian life and became a cop. Hearing about this program, he applied and was accepted, and is in his first semester in nursing school. Did I mention that he’s 26 and also has two bachelors degrees? As we were talking, I asked if he would consider returning to the military as a nurse officer. He replied “Not really. I’ve got a wife and kids now. I’d hate to uproot them and keep them moving all the time.” I commiserated, saying that I left active duty for the reserves when they were going to send me back out to sea, leaving Jill and the three boys home... again. He continued that, upon graduation, he intends on joining the VA and helping wounded veterans. I smiled. I reported to Marilyn that Rolando doesn’t need a mentor! He’s totally on the right track and she should put him on the rubber chicken circuit as a speaker for the program! I’ll stay in contact with him and, if it were not for Covid, we’d meet in person. On the Marine Corps Birthday (November 10th, for you mere mortals...), he and I shared some electronic oooh-rahs! Once I’ve had the vaccine, I’ll chase him down. I’m definitely looking forward to meeting him and his family

Legislative Affairs

Col Paul LoschiavoLegislative Affairs Chairman

in person. If you’d consider being a mentor, connect with Marilyn. Obviously, you need not be a nurse. Her info is in the ad at the back. I can’t guarantee that you’ll mentor as great a student as Rolando, but if the rest are any way similar to him, you’ll feel great.

This column is supposed to be about Legislative Affairs, right? Here’s an interesting one: Congressional legislators from both sides are meeting soon to reconcile the National Defense Authorization Act for 2021. This is the Military Budget. There’s a problem with it. Both sides agree in general with adding language that would require the re-naming of military bases currently named after Confederate Generals. This is a show stopper with President Trump, who must sign it for it to take effect. I’m unsure of what the solution is... MOAA National is asking us to pressure our representatives to get the bill passed as continuing resolutions are a terrible way to run the finest military force on the planet, but even this Marine, a graduate of Jump School who has jumped with the 82nd Airborne Division, has ties to both Fort Benning and Fort Bragg. I’ll send something to Congressman Brian Mast as soon as I figure out where I stand on it.

MentorsWanted! T h e C h r i s ) n e E . L y n n C o l l e g e o fNursingatFlorida Atlan)c University, in BocaRaton, FLis lookingforveterannursesandotherveteran officersto serve as mentors forveteranscurrentlystudyingtobecomenursesaspart of a grant,the Caring-basedAcademicP a r t n e r s h i p s i n E x c e l l e n c e :Veteran RNs inPrimary Care(CAPE-V).  There’sno requirement that you live in South Florida...the only requirement is a desire to help andencourage a young veteranin his or heracademic pursuit! Please contact: Director, Dr.Beth King atbking@health.fau.edu, or Dr.Marilyn Ray, Colonel USAF NC (Ret) atmray@health.fau.edu for further informa)onabout the CAPE-V grant, Veteran Mentorship,andPrimaryCare.

This program is supported by the Health Resources andServices AdministraEon (HRSA) of the U.S. Department ofHealthandHumanServices(HHS)aspartofanawardtotaling$500,000, 0%financedwithnon-governmental sources. Thecontents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarilyrepresenttheofficialviewsof,noranendorsement,byHRSA,HHS or the U.S. Government. Formore informaEon, pleasevisitHRSA.gov.

**WW II Army Nurse insignia

https://chapterdues.moaa.org/Membership.aspx

Pay your chapter dues here!

Remember, dues are just $20 until Dec 31st when paying on line. After that date dues will return to our normal amount of $35.

*********************

mailto:bking@health.fau.edumailto:mray@health.fau.eduhttps://chapterdues.moaa.org/Membership.aspx

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.LTC Herb Sennett, USA561-252-3263

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Upcoming Events:

December:

Board Meeting via Zoom, date and time TBDOfficers Call/Dinner cancelled due to covid