Rear Admiral Noah Long, Civil Engineer Corps, U.S. Navy (Retired) of Signal Mountain is the 2012 recipient of the Charles Coolidge Veteran of the Year Award which was presented at Chattanooga Area Veterans Council’s (CAVC) Annual Awards Dinner and Officer Installation on Friday.
The award recognizes outstanding support of military veterans by a local veteran during the previous year. Long’s many contributions to the community were highlighted by his vigilance in coordinating the planting of some 100 trees at Chattanooga National Cemetery.
One of the nation’s largest and most beautiful cemeteries, Chattanooga National’s tree population has been decimated by multiple storms during the past decade. Mr. Long developed the tree-replacement plan, spearheaded fundraising, coordinated all necessary components and personally assisted in the planting effort.
Stacy Kehoe of Signal Mountain was selected as the 2012 Charles Coolidge Associate Veteran of the Year. Presented to a non-veteran who has displayed significant support of the veteran community, Ms. Kehoe received the award for her establishment of and extensive personal involvement with the Signal Mountain Sea Cadet Division.
As commanding officer of the division, Kehoe promotes patriotism and leadership among her cadets by encouraging and joining them in numerous community and veteran-related service projects.
Mickey McCamish of Chattanooga was selected for the Milton Thomas Award for his creation of the Southeast Tennessee Veterans Coalition which provides outreach ot veterans and their families by creating partnerships between Veteran Administration providers and local agencies.
The installation of 2013 CAVC officers was conducted by past-chair Jim Shull of Hixson. Newly-elected officers are: Chairman Lester Norton of Chickamauga; Chairman-elect Patty Parks of Ooltewah; Vice-Chair Billy Hewitt of Chattanooga; Treasurer Dan Lovin of Ooltewah; Secretary Carol Laing of Hixson, Chaplain Bill Norton of North Chattanooga and Newsletter Editor Mark Parks of Ooltewah.
The evening’s guest speaker was Major General Alan Harris, Assistant Adjutant General with Tennessee Army National Guard in Nashville who spoke about the effects of sequestration on local veterans and the Tennessee National Guard.
Originally established in 1983 as a means to coordinate the activities of various area veterans groups, today’s CAVC is comprised of some 50 member and associate organizations providing streamlined support efforts, celebratory event coordination and a centralized resource repository for all military veterans and their families in the tri-state area of Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama.
Shown, from left to right, back row, are Treasurer Dan Lovin of Ooltewah, Newsletter Editor Mark Parks of Ooltewah, Secretary Carol Laing of Hixson and Chaplain Bill Norton of North Chattanooga; front row, Chairman-elect Billy Hewitt of Chattanooga, Chairman Lester Norton of Chickamauga, and Chair-Elect Patty Parks of Ooltewah.