ARMY NAVY AIR FORCE USPHS
Wreaths Across America
2022
MOAA Uniformed Services Nurse Advocates Virtual Chapter (MUSNAVC) participated in the Wreaths Across America’s nation-wide program to place wreaths at the graves of veterans. Individual Chapter members’ donations augmented a generous grant from USAA, allowing us to purchase 80 wreaths to lay at several locations across the country. MUSNAVC members along with family and friends participated to remember, honor and teach.
Thank you to our site coordinators: CAPT(R) Lynn Nash -The Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery (Alexandia, VA), Col (R) Pat Chappell - Pike's Peak National Cemetery (Colorado Springs, CO),
COL (R) Diane Scherr - The Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery (Ft. Bragg,NC),
COL (R) Lennie Enzel - The Fort Bliss National Cemetery (El Paso, TX).
Scroll down viewer to read and see photo's from Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery.
Wreaths Across America
2020
The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions greatly impacted the number and extent of MUSNAVC members participation in Wreaths Across America programs. Several members were able to participate at various sites and and programs to continue to Remember and Honor Our Veterans.
Wreaths Across America
2019
MOAA Uniformed Services Nurse Advocates Virtual Chapter (MUSNAVC) participated in the Wreaths Across America’s nation-wide program to place wreaths at the graves of veterans. Individual Chapter members’ donations augmented a generous grant from USAA, allowing us to purchase wreaths to lay at several locations across the country: MUSNAVC participated with the Army Nurse Corps Association (ANCA), the Society of Air Force Nurses (SAFN) and the US Air Force Academy, along with family and friends to remember, honor and teach.
Below are photo's from Pike's Peak National Cemetery (Colorado Springs, CO), the Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery (Alexandia, VA), the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery (Ft. Bragg,NC), the Cedar Grove Cemetery (New Bern, NC) and the Fort Sam Houston Cemetery (San Antonio, TX).
[click on image to enlarge]
Wreaths Across America
2018
MOAA’s first virtual chapter, MOAA Uniformed Services Nurse Advocates Virtual Chapter, or MUSNAVC, once again participated in the Wreaths Across America’s nation-wide program to place wreaths at the graves of veterans. Individual Chapter members’ donations augmented a generous grant from USAA, allowing us to purchase wreaths to lay at four locations across the country: National Cemeteries in Arlington, VA; Fort Sam Houston (San Antonio, TX); Tahoma (Kent, WA); and the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery (Spring Lake, NC, outside Ft. Bragg). Individual members in other locations also participated in ceremonies in Wilmington, NC and Fort Polk, LA.
Veteran's Day 2017
Former Def Sec, Chuck Hagel with Vietnam era Nurses at dinner
COL (R) Lennie Enzel with Maya Lin who is the designer of the Vietnam Memorial Wall
COL(R) Lennie Enzel with actress Ann Margaret and LTC Sam Alden
Jeri Graham & Ed Baisden moved to "the home", as they call it, in mid-August. They are very happy in their new retirement community and were honored in the annual community observance of Veterans Day.
The Searstone Honor Wall was created this year to recognize and honor all residents who are Veterans.
COL(R) Jeri Graham, MUSNAVC President, and her husband COL(R) Ed Baisden pose before the Searstone Honor Wall
Jeri's photo on the Searstone Honor Wall
Ed served in the US Embassy in Moscow as Assistant Army Attache from 1078-1980. This vehicle, license # D-04-007, was assigned to him for personal and business use. Somebody in either the Embassy or the KGB had a sly sense of humor.
Wreaths Across America 2017
WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA – 2017
MOAA’s first virtual chapter, MOAA Uniformed Services Nurse Advocates Virtual Chapter, or MUSNAVC, participated in the Wreaths Across America nation-wide program to place wreaths at the graves of veterans. With a generous grant from USAA, Virtual Chapter members laid wreaths in the National Cemeteries at Arlington,(VA) Fort Sam Houston (San Antonio, TX) , Tahoma (Kent, WA), Wilmington (NC) and the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery ( Spring Lake, NC, outside Ft. Bragg).
COL (R) Bev Cornett and MAJ Doug Taylor, both MUSNAVC members, with MAJ Taylor's family represented MUSNAVC at Tahoma National Cemetery
The crowd at this observance was the largest so far, some 600-700 in attendance. It was a wonderful ceremony from start to finish. Kudos to the NC01 Chapter of Rolling Thunder who made it all happen.
The "Missing Man" ceremony was an integral part of the day's program. If you've not seen one, you should. VERY moving!
The MUSNAVC "team" prepared to lay wreaths. Many thanks to USAA for their generous grant to support this nation-wide effort by MUSNAVC. From L-R, Debbie Betts (M), Diane Scherr (M), Jeri Graham (M), Ed Baisden (S), Diana Stepanik (M), Jerry Stepanik (S) "M" = Member, "S" = Spouse
COL (R) Jeri Graham, MUSNAVC President, & COL (R) Ed Baisden lay a wreath.
COL (R) Diane Scherr, MUSNAVC member, lays a wreath.
COL (R) Debbie Betts, MUSNAVC member, and Carolyn (Jody) Campbell, MOAA Surviving Spouse, lay a wreath at the grave of Debbie's father, MAJ (R) Walter J. Campbell, USA
COL (R) Diana Stepanik, MUSNAVC member and COL (R) Jerry Stepanik, MOAA member, lay a wreath
COL (R) Carol Jones represented MUSNAVC at Arlington National Cemetery and provided these pictures.
Society of Air Force Nurses at Nurses Section during wreath laying
COL Nancy Molter represented MUSNAVC at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery
COL (R) Donna Wright lays a wreath
LTC (R) JoAnn Doleman represented MUSNAVC at Wilmington, NC, National Cemetery and provided these pictures