Calling All Veterans – Join Our Speakers List!
We’re building a speakers list of veterans ready to share their service stories and inspire our community. From Memorial Day to Veterans Day, your voice brings meaning and recognition to local events.
Our chapter has proudly provided speakers for the Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens, The Casements, and the City of Daytona Beach. Now, we want to grow this tradition.
We also encourage community and business leaders to share their own work and stories with us. By collaborating, we can build lasting relationships that benefit both our military and veteran communities.
Interested? Contact us to be added to the list and help us showcase the value of military service.
Spotlight on Speakers
This page highlights MOAA Halifax Area Chapter members who inform and inspire through public speaking. If you’re hosting or presenting at an upcoming event, let us know! We’ll share your efforts, encourage attendance, and celebrate your impact.
Together, we connect, inspire, and strengthen community bonds.
Whether you’re hosting a speaking event or presenting on behalf of MOAA, we want to hear from you! If you have an upcoming engagement you’d like to share with fellow members, please use our Contact Us link to send us the details. We’d be proud to showcase your efforts, encourage attendance, and help spread the word.
Let’s continue to connect, inform, and inspire—together.
2025-2026 Speakers
Speakers Schedule
| September 2025 | Mr. Greg Wilson, MAJ USMC (Ret) Umpire Academy Wounded Warrior Association |
| October 2025 | Surviving Spouses – Dr Izsel Harriett |
| November 2025 | Mr. David Lydon, Lt COL USAF (Ret) Flagler County Veteran’s Services |
| December 2025 | No Speaker – Christmas Gala |
| January 2026 | Ernie Audino, BG USA (Ret) – Volusia County Business & Community Development – Read his Bio here! |
| February 2026 | Mr. David Freeman, LTC USA (Ret) – Adventurer and Veteran Connections. Read his Bio here! |
| March 2026 | Councilman Vice Chair Matt Reinhart Vice Chair of the Volusia County Council and District 2 Representative. |
| April 2026 | No Speaker – Cadet dinner |
| May 2026 | No Speaker – Outstanding Support to Veterans Awards |
Speaker Biographies:
February 26, 2026 – Mr. David Freeman, LTC, USA, (Ret)
January 22, 2026 – Mr. Ernie Audino, BG, USA, (Ret)
September 25, 2025 – Mr. Greg Wilson, MAJ, USMC (Ret)
October 23, 2025 – Dr. Izsel Harriott, PhD
Read more: 🎤 Speakers Corner 🎤
November 20, 2025 – Mr. David Lydon, Lt Col, USAF (Ret) & VSO
2024-2025 Speakers
May 26, 2025 – Memorial Day
‘Poppy Moments’: Veteran Reflects on Sacrifice and Remembrance at Memorial Day Ceremony
In Flanders Fields the poppies grow… For U.S. Air Force veteran Capt. Andrew Hoffman, the sight of the red poppy always stirs deep emotions—thoughts of remembrance, sacrifice, and honor.
During the City of Ormond Beach’s annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service on Monday, May 26, Capt. Hoffman referenced the iconic military poem by Lt. Col. John McCrae. Held each year to honor fallen service members, the ceremony includes performances by the Daytona Beach Concert Band, a wreath-laying ceremony, and tributes to veterans of all military branches.
Hoffman, a resident of Ormond Beach, shared that In Flanders Fields has resonated with him since his first-grade teacher read it aloud to his class. He refers to moments of honoring the fallen as his personal “poppy moments.”
“Each time I saw the poppy, my heart saluted and I remembered,” Hoffman said.
Originally from Wethersfield, Connecticut, Hoffman enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1970. He served during the Vietnam War and completed overseas deployments during Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and the post-9/11 period. He retired from the Air Force Reserves in 2002, capping 32 years of service.
During his speech, Hoffman recalled a moment in the early 1980s when his unit was asked to divert 800 miles—adding four hours to their mission—to Aviano, Italy, to repatriate a fallen soldier’s remains.
“Without hesitation, we all had our poppy moment and agreed to divert to Aviano,” he said. “After tying down the pallet… we returned to the peaceful sky, much more somber in our thoughts than before. Before takeoff, someone had tucked a poppy into the tie-down strap. As we passed the coffin through the flight, this poppy reminded us of our continued commitment to the peace effort.”
Upon arrival, despite limited time, the crew saluted the fallen and offered a heartfelt “Godspeed”—another poppy moment.
The event’s opening remarks were delivered by U.S. Marine Corps veteran Col. R. Bancroft McKittrick, who emphasized the importance of honoring those in Ormond Beach and neighboring communities who have served.
“Today, we remember the fallen and the liberties and freedoms we enjoy thanks to the sacrifices so many generations of men and women made on our behalf,” McKittrick said.
Hoffman reflected on the meaning of Memorial Day, noting that the debt of a life lost in service can never truly be repaid—but it can be remembered.
“As you continue to celebrate Memorial Day today and every day going forward, I ask you to stop, take a long look at the American flag waving above you, and pause to reflect on this,” Hoffman said. “It’s not the wind that makes the flag fly. It’s the final breaths of every soldier, sailor, and airman who passed away while defending you.”
A Salute to Local Journalism
Events like the Ormond Beach Memorial Day Remembrance Service hold deep meaning for the community, and thanks to the dedicated coverage of the Ormond Beach Observer, these stories of honor, reflection, and local legacy are preserved and shared. In chronicling both the moments of tribute and the voices of those who serve, the Observer continues its vital role in strengthening community connection and memory.
May 22, 2025
🎖 Featured Guest Speakers:
🎤 Cathy Heighter – Gold Star Mother, Founder of Florida Gold Star Families, LLC and Remembering Heroes
🎤 Sergeant Major Vincent “Kip” Mathias, U.S. Army (Ret.) – President, AUSA Space Coast Chapter
🎖️ Halifax Chapter of MOAA Honors Veterans Advocates 🎖️
Each May, the Halifax Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) proudly presents the Outstanding Support to Veterans Award to organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to veterans and their families.
For May 2025, we are honored to recognize:
🇺🇸 Team Red, White, and Blue (Non-profit)
🏥 Halifax Health Hospice (For-profit)
Both recipients have shown unwavering dedication through veteran hiring initiatives, custom employee programs, and meaningful community outreach. From mentorship programs to partnerships with nonprofits, their efforts have made a lasting impact on veterans transitioning to civilian life.
👏 We commend these organizations for their leadership, compassion, and continued service to our nation’s heroes.
Halifax Area Chapter MOAA 
