Military Officers Association of America
Southwest Illinois Chapter

MOAA SW IL Title
Our Mission
MOAA SW IL 5-Star Award
The Southwest Illinois Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is a professional organization of military officers supporting the efforts of a nationally chartered veteran organization comprised of more than 320 chapters that is defending the interests of active duty, Reserve component, and retired military members to the national legislature. Within our local area, we support other veteran organizations supporting our men and women currently serving and those who have served.



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President's Message

Welcome to our newest Chapter members John and Deborah Calcaterra, and Chuck and Lynn Pittman!

Because of what this Chapter (all y'all!) did last year, we received a 5‐Star Level of Excellence award for 2024! Thank you for your participation and support of our activities to serve the military community across southern Illinois. Let's make 2025 even better! Stay tuned for more information about how you can help out. And in case you missed it, our outstanding newsletter created by the outstanding Editor in'Chief, Rick Sunner, earned another 5'Star Harris Communications Award for 2024! Well done, Rick!

May is the month that honors several groups for their service and sacrifice. The entire month is Military Appreciation Month and Military Caregivers Month. Here are some specific days in May:

  • 1st ‐ Silver Star Service Banner Day
  • 1st ‐ Loyalty Day
  • 8th ‐ Victory in Europe (WWII)
  • 9th ‐ Military Spouse Appreciation Day
  • 11th ‐ Mother’s Day
  • 12th‐17th ‐ Armed Forces Week
  • 13th ‐ Children of Fallen Patriots Day
  • 17th ‐ Armed Forces Day
  • 28th ‐ Memorial Day

It is traditional for schools and universities to host their annual end‐of‐academic-year awards nights in April and May. We have the honor of supporting six JROTC and two ROTC detachments. You'll see in the JROTC/ROTC updates the names of the cadets who earned the MOAA medal for their particular detachment. The certificate for JROTC reads: "for having demonstrated outstanding citizenship, personal responsibility, and service to the community and country as a member of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps" or in the case of ROTC cadets, "for having demonstrated exceptional potential for military leadership as a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps." Eloquent and succinct, but there is probably more behind the selection of the cadet. Both ROTC and JROTC cadets work hard to earn these medals. When I asked the Military Science Instructor at Cahokia High School what we can do to support the kids in the detachment, her response was, "just show up to present the award." No money, no speeches, just show up and present an award. How much time would you be willing to give to represent the Southwest IL Chapter and present a medal to a deserving cadet? The season is over for this academic year, but please keep this time in mind for next year. Be willing to show how much we care about the achievements of these young people. You won't regret the experience.

Thank you for your service in the past and your continuing service now for those who are serving in the military. Let's keep them in mind as we serve the community and advocate for those who have served and are serving now. We have the wherewithal to help out now because of those who took off their uniform and, before we arrived, continued to serve. We need to show the following generation–the youngsters–how to serve after we take off the uniform. God bless you, those who are serving, those who served and gave the full measure of their devotion, those who remain, the elected leaders of this nation, and this great nation that has been blessed by God to be a beacon to the rest of the world! Amen and amen.

Editorial Policy The Southwest Illinois Chapter website is maintained soley by the Southwest Illinois Chapter which is an affiliate of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). MOAA and its affiliated chapters and councils are nonpartisan. The views expressed in this website (including all web pages and attached documents) are only the SW IL chapter's, and do NOT reflect the views of National MOAA or any entity of the US federal government.

Contact us via e-mail: moaa.swil@gmail.com if you have questions, comments, or concerns.