Military Officer Organization Gathers at “Susan’s Summer Social”

The Atlanta Area Chapter of The Military Order of the World Wars attended the first face-to-face gathering since the pandemic on Saturday, July 17, 2021. MOWW is one of the oldest military officer organizations in the US, which began in 1919 as a vision of “The General of the Armies,” General John J. Pershing.

Gallery Captions, Left to Right:

1. Kitiya Pimparatana, Mary Martin, LaDonna Reynolds, Trudy Bedford, Rebecca Hadaway (Staff of Molnlycke Health Care)
2. Bonnie Jones, Mary Martin, Linda Wood, CAPT Carter Wood, Major Bill Coleman, Dr. Teresa Coleman
3. CAPT Harley Jones (Chapter Chaplain) giving the invocation
4. Dorothy Newman

The 2021 gathering was a picnic entitled “Susan’s Summer Social” in remembrance of companion Susan Newman, who was the Chapter Treasurer. There were 42 attendees at the event, including MOWW companions and Susan Newman’s friends and co-workers from
Molnlycke, a Peachtree Corners medical supply store.

Gallery Captions, Top Left to Right then Bottom same:

5. LTC Vis Kimenis, Candra Buchanan, Loretta Buchanan, COL M. Buck Buchanan, CDR Robert Soderstrom
6. Mary Martin, Kitiya Pimparatana, Rebecca Hadaway, Colleen Culbertson
7. Dorothy Newman, CAPT Harley Jones, Rosemary Catanesi
8. Past CDR Linda Ebert, CDR Robert Soderstrom
9. MAJ Bruce Bonds (seated), Mike Roman, Susan Roman, CMDR Robert Soderstrom

The social was held at the home and garden of Ms. Dorothy Newman, a longtime resident of Peachtree Corners, who is the Protocol Officer for the Chapter. Companions traveled from as far as Augusta, Sharpsburg, Newnan, Flowery Branch, Woodstock, Mableton and Hoschton, Ga. to attend. Many awards were presented during the ceremony.

PCINC, COL David Titus, a Past Commander in Chief; Region V CDR, SGM Mike Culbertson;
Atlanta Chapter CDR, Robert Soderstrom; and Past CDR, Linda Ebert Ariff presented the various special awards, medals and Certificates of Appreciation, as well as Centennial historical keepsake coins to the committee members for Boy Scout and ROTC/JROTC committee for work completed in 2020 and 2021. CDR Soderstrom; ADJ, M. Buck Buchanan and Treasurer, Ariff were recognized for maintaining chapter communication through various technology methods during COVID that enabled programs such as First Responder Units, Boy Scouts and JROTC to continue their roles.

Gallery Captions:

1. American Flag “Cupcake Cake” 2. CAPT Bill Tewelow 3. Bonnie Jones, Ann Tewelow 4. COL David Titus, Dorothy Newman 5. Eating lunch in the back yard 6. The dining room table set with goodies 7. LTC Vis Kimenis 8. LTC Louis Ariff

Other awardees included:
Dorothy Newman, Harley and Bonnie Jones, Loretta and Candra Buchanan, Lou and Linda Ariff, Ann and Bill Tewelow, Carter Wood, Vis Kimenis, Jim Parsons and Jim Buterbaugh. Committee members not in attendance will receive awards at the September meeting in Buckhead.

The numbered commemorative Centennial keepsake coin can be purchased for $12. For more information on how to support MOWW youth programs, sponsor a student to Youth Leadership Conference and membership info, text L. Ebert at 678-663-6203.