President’s Message

COL (Ret) George Stakias, USAR

January 2026

Happy New Year!! Hoping everyone had a restful holiday season!

Increasing our membership is how we will sustain this outstanding Chapter. Please consider inviting a colleague to our next meeting or giving them a recruitment brochure (available online) and encouraging them to join our organization. Col Rita Kurek did just that and we are happy to welcome new member LTC Linda Piazza USAF ANG to our ranks!

We have several dinner meetings and the paws4vets event planned for 2026 but we are also pursuing a possible road trip to the National Museum of the US Army outside of Ft. Belvoir VA in May or June. Our 1st VP & wife, Frank & Ann Hilsher, visited recently and said it is remarkable and a “must see”! The Maryland Military Historical Society will be sponsoring a Unit Tribute and Symposium on May 23-24, 2026 at the Army Museum in which we have an opportunity to participate.  We will discuss this more at the February meeting for interest and dates.

Our major fundraiser for the paws4vets foundation is soon approaching and I encourage every member to attend this very fun event for such a worthy cause and I’m hoping many members once again will sell a table of ten for which you will receive our superb event coin.Front Rear

Please see the paws4vets event flyer in the current January 2026 newsletter. Tickets ARE AVAILABLE NOW via mail using the flyer, online via check or PayPal or may be purchased at the February Dinner Meeting!! You need tickets for this event!! NO TICKETS SOLD AT DOOR!!!!  SAVE THE DATE!!! Gather your friends and family to support a great cause! Our Grand Raffle tickets are also now available and will be sent to Active Members for sale! Three fantastic prizes for a $10 donation! Drawing at the event on April 25.