MILITARY

The Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America has canceled its annual Christmas dinner meeting due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and restrictions on group gatherings. The chapter usually hosts six dinner meetings each year for Officers and Warrant Officers (active duty, National Guard, reserve, former and retired) of the U.S. Armed Forces, their spouses and guests. Leaders are hopeful that the pandemic will be under control in the near future, and the dinner meetings can resume in 2021.

The Northwest Arkansas Chapter of MOAA is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to benefit members of the uniformed services, their families and survivors and to advocate for a strong national defense, while providing needed support to the community and its members.

The Chapter is active in a robust veterans’ scholarship program and the expansion of the Fayetteville National Cemetery. Also, member volunteers coordinate and teach a U.S. flag etiquette program for local fifth-grade students. In addition, the chapter participates in the Northwest Arkansas Veterans Coalition.

The chapter has a close relationship with the University of Arkansas Army and Air Force ROTC departments. At ROTC commissioning ceremonies, member volunteers present newly commissioned cadets with engraved Second Lieutenant bars, a personal copy of the U.S. Constitution and a MOAA certificate. At the ROTC annual award ceremonies, a cadre-selected junior ROTC cadet from each department is presented a MOAA medal and ribbon for outstanding achievement. A recently implemented Mentorship

Program for ROTC seniors was put on hold this academic year due to covid-19, but plans are being made to continue the program as soon as it is safe. Finally, members from the chapter volunteer to serve on discussion panels during ROTC classes based on expertise and experience.

Information: (501) 2407562 or email crawforr@ hotmail.com.

Bob Underdown, dressed in period civilian attire, receives a certificate of appreciation from Chuck Pribbernow, president of the Bella Vista Civil War Round Table at their meeting on Thursday evening, Dec. 3, in the American Legion Hall in Bella Vista. Underdown’s topic was “Christmas in the Civil War,” reading excerpts from letters and diaries of soldiers and their families about how they spent Christmas during the war. He also displayed Christmas-related memorabilia for American wars through the years. Covid-19 safety precautions were followed for the approximately 20 in attendance, with audience members wearing masks and socially distancing. The next Round Table meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7, location to be determined. The group would appreciate hearing from anyone who has a room large enough for them to meet in for a few months on the first Thursday evening of each month, since the Bella Vista Historical Museum’s meeting room, where they met prior to the pandemic, is not large enough to hold them while social distancing is still required. The meetings are open to everyone. For more information, contact Chuck Pribbernow at cnpribb@yahoo.com.