Published: May 17, 2008 12:29 am            

AFA chapter ‘re-started’ on Coast

In August of 2005 Hurricane Katrina wrecked almost everything on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Among the many organizations that all but ceased operations was the Stennis Air Force Association chapter stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi. On May 8, the Stennis chapter was re-started with 37 people attending the meeting. The inaugural luncheon showcased Maj. Gen. Mike Gould, the commanding officer of the 2nd Air Force, Brig. Gen. Richard Moss, commander of the 403rd Wing, Air Force Reserve Command at Keesler AFB and Col. Gregory Touhill, commander of the 81st Training Wing at Keesler.

Mississippi AFA President Roy Gibbens of Meridian, who also attended the meeting, said captains Mike Zink and Rick Parent have done and continue to do a fine job of getting the chapter up and running.

"It's a very time consuming project to get the wheels rolling toward establishing a chapter," said Gibbens, who helped secure an AFA chapter in Meridian in 2005. "I feel really good about the work being done down there."

Both the state AFA and the Stennis chapter gave $100 to the Fisher House on the base. The Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher House at Keesler provides a comfortable home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill patients at the Keesler Medical Center and the Biloxi/Gulfport Veterans Health Administration Hospitals.

Built in 1992 at no cost to the government, the 5,000 square foot, two-story Keesler Fisher House is the sixth of 32 Fisher Houses donated to those in need of lodging by the late Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher of New York. The intent was, and still is, to provide home-like accommodations at little or no cost for those individuals. Operating costs are underwritten by nominal guest fees and by contributions to the non-profit Fisher House of Keesler, Inc., a Mississippi 501(C)3 tax-exempt corporation.

"Maj. Gen. Gould was very appreciative in the donations to such a worthy cause," said Gibbens. "I'm confident the Stennis chapter will take its place among all the other AFA chapters in the state in supporting our nation's air force personnel and their families."

        

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