FLORIDA SUNCOAST CHAPTER OF


Project Gratitude

 Your chapter is participating in Project Gratitude.  This project provides chaplains back from Iraq or Afghanistan and their families with a brief three day “R & R” respite in Tampa, Florida. The program is to honor and benefit active duty Chaplains recently back from a 6 to 12 month tour in Iraq or Afghanistan, and their families.  Our Chapter provides funds for dinner coupons for those chaplains. See www.projectgratitude.net for more details on Project Gratitude.

 

The most recent Project Gratitude event honored Capt. Mark Winton of the US Army who has seen five rotations to a warzone.  Captain Winton is shown at the left with his wife Karen and their children Kayla (6), Sam (4), Ethan (infant).  Below you see Chapter officer Ed Schenk presenting the Wintons with a meal gift certificate.

 

 

Project Gratitude events were held on June 7 and August 22.  The June 7th meeting honored (1) Chaplain (Major) James E. Schaefer with his wife Elizabeth, and children Thomas, and Grace.  He spent 13 months in Afghanistan as the 3rd Brigade Combat Team Chaplain.  (2)Chaplain (Major) Michael T. Klein with his wife Lori, and children Gavin (15), Azelyn (12), and Valaria (5).  He spent 15 months in Afghanistan as  Chaplain, 82d Airborne Division.

Chaplain Schaefer and his wife are shown on the far left below.  Chaplain Klein and his family are shown on the right below.  Chapter President Jack Stanard made the presentation to those chaplains.

 

The August 22nd Project Gratitude meeting honored Chaplain (Major) Brian Ray with his family as shown below.  Presentation to that chaplain was made by chapter officer Ed Schenk.

 

Events were held on April 8 and April 23.  At the April 8 dinner our chapter presented Chaplain (CPT) Terry Cobban with a card and meal gift certificate at a local restaurant.  Chaplain Cobban was severely  wounded by a suicide bomber in Iraq.  The April 8 meeting was significant in that it was then that our chapter was awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award including a letter from President Bush.  The picture at the right shows Ms Aileen Rodriquez, Regional Director for Senator Mel Martinez, presenting to Bob Frankel from our chapter that award.  The award included the President’s Volunteer Service Award certificate, a letter from the President’s Council On Service & Civic Participation, and a letter from the White House. See those letters and the certificate on the links provided.
        The April 23 meeting honored two chaplains.  One was Chaplain (CPT) Chris Carson of the 2nd Brigade Special Forces Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC.  He was deployed in Iraq from December 2005 to March 2006  and again December 2006 to January 2008.  He is married and has three children.  The other was Chaplain (CPT) Davis Curlin who is currently attending the Army Chaplain School Advanced Course with a follow-on assignment as the Chaplain, 2nd Ranger Battalion, Fort Lewis, Washington. He was deployed as a squadron chaplain for the 1-14 Cav, 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Iraq from November 2003 to October 2004 and again from June 2006 to September 2007.  He is married and has 4 children.  

 

The next ceremony was held February 4th at the Residence Inn in Tampa.  The guest of honor was Chaplain (CPT) Mike Shellman of the 3/75 Ranger Regiment from Fort Benning, GA., who was there with his wife Shirley.  They can be seen in the picture at the left.  The event was attended by chapter members Ed Schenk and Jack Stanard who  awarded Cpt Shellman with complementary meal tickets. 

 


 

The second award ceremony for a returning chaplain was on 5 November 2007 at the Courtyard Hotel meeting room  just off Fletcher and I-75, Temple Terrace, at 6 PM. The  award was for Chaplain Steve Thompson.  LtCol Thompson, as seen at the left, of the Florida National Guard was deployed with the 202nd Combat Engineers in Iraq from October 2006 to May 2007.  Among the attendees at this event were the mayor of Temple Terrace, a representative from Senator Nelson’s office and Ed Schenk from the Suncoast Chapter.  Ed Shenk is shown at the right presenting a meal certificate to LtCol Thompson.

 

The first chaplain honored was Chaplain (Captain) Bill Draper & His Wife, Yvonne, on October 8, 9, 10, 2007.  Chaplain Draper was deployed for one year in Afghanistan with the 198th Military Police Battalion of the Kentucky National Guard.  There was a dinner reception at Lupton’s BBQ in Temple Terrace on October 8th.  The picture at the right shows Robert Frankel presenting  a meal gift certificate at that dinner reception to Chaplain Draper on behalf of the Suncoast Chapter, MOAA.   Other participants at this presentation dinner were from Senator Nelson's office, the Mayor of Temple Terrace, Busch Gardens, the American Legion and the Office of Governor Crist.  Approximately twenty individuals attended the dinner.      

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