Fellow Patriots,

The summer is “over” or at least our “dark period” is. I hope all of you had a great summer and are

looking forward to renewing acquaintances and friends.

I want to welcome our new Department Junior Vice. Allan Lee was elected at our DEC meeting on August 26th. Alan is an Army Veteran who served in Iraqi Freedom and is a 21-year member of the Order. He is a former Chapter Commander of chapter 0572, Sierra Vista, and current member of chapter 0442. Al is a welcome addition to the Department leadership team. He can be reached via email at AZAMF600@GMAIL.COM. Please take a moment and welcome him to the team.

Our new National Command Team worked hard during transition and are now fully focused on this fiscal year and a Strategic View and Plan for the Order which will help stabilize the Order’s efforts and direction beyond the one-year tenure we have grown to expect. Andrew DelGaudio, the National Senior Vice Commander asked anyone interested in helping to develop that plan to contact him (seniorvice@purpleheart.org).

As you plan your activities for the upcoming months, please take time to remember some of the

more significant dates and events each month. You can find these and a short AI assisted article about

each on our Purple Heart Calendar at (https://www.mophaz.org/events). If you have an event you’d like to see on that calendar, let our adjutant know (adjutant.mophaz@gmail.com). Here’s a list of some

September events.

Sep 1st

Service Dog Awareness Month

Sep 2nd

V-J Day – Commemoration

Sep 7th

Labor Day

Sep 11th

Patriot Day

Sep 15th

- Oct 15th

Hispanic American Month

Sep 18th

Air Force Birthday

Sep 18th

National POW/MIA Recognition Day

Sep 27th

Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day

Even though cooler weather is here, we can still have some extended triple-digit days, so we still need

to be constantly vigil for heat related injuries, not just within the Order, but around our communities. Be sure to carry extra water in your vehicles while out and about, you never know when you may need it yourself or to help a friend or neighbor.

As I close for this month, be sure you take time to celebrate life with your family and friends. Take

some time each week to connect with a Veteran and make a new friend. If you see a Veteran with a

military cap or shirt, don’t just walk by, stop, say hi and start a conversation with a new friend. Wear your military cap or shirt and let others know you are proud to be a Veteran and a Purple Heart Recipient.

Thanks for all you have done, continue to do, and are thinking about doing for Veterans, the Order, and

our Country.

PS.

My input as Adjutant talks about engagement so please take a minute to read it and reflect on how it

could affect you or how you can affect it.

Yours in Patriotism

Larry Leighton

Department Commander

commandermophaz@gmail.co

Help make this year’s fundraiser a success by 

1) buying at least one calendar for yourself and one for gift, 

2) spread the invitation to your family and friends, and 3) share the Sponsor Request Letter with the businesses you frequent (and even those you don’t). Don’t be afraid to ask – you never know they might say YES.