More About MOAA

My immediate reaction to the name change was negative, but I will support the proposed change. Having said that, I still have two reservations. The acronym for the new name will be MOAA, letting critics satirically portray the association as just another self-serving organization seeking "mo-aa" (read "more") for its members.

My intuitive feeling is that the name change will not increase membership in any significant way. The justifications offered for change seem forced and in the category of "we have a declining membership - let's do something." TROA's membership is not declining because the association is ineffective - far from it. There is simply a declining pool of potential members for associations like ours. Organizations like troa face the same bleak membership situation. A name change will not make much of a difference.

Col. Vincent McDonald, USA-Ret.
Fairfax Station, Va.

I recently voiced my objection to changing the name of our fine organization. However, after reading "Securing Our Future" [May 2002] by Col. Ron Buchert, USAF-Ret., I have changed my mind. I'm certainly in favor of taking whatever steps necessary to make sure that our organization remains strong. If [that means] changing the name and recruiting active duty members, I'm all for that move. I now plan to vote "yes" in August.

Lt. Cmdr. C.W. Holland, USN-Ret.
via e-mail

Here are some hard facts to consider. You don't have to be a reserve officer to join the Reserve Officers Association. You don't have to be a retired officer to join TROA. You don't have to be a veteran of a foreign war to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars. You don't have to be a world war veteran to join the Military Order of the World Wars.

Explaining our mission either sells membership in our organization or doesn't. We truly delude ourselves if we think that a name change is a panacea for lagging membership. Ours is a proud organization, widely known and respected. How silly to create a situation that demands we explain ourselves to potential members by telling them, "We used to be called TROA."

How many members will we lose when we change the name of the organization they voluntarily joined?

Lt. Col. William Sellen, AUS-Ret.
via e-mail

Editor's note: TROA's board of directors carefully considered the arguments for and against the name change.

Active duty people have been troa members since 1950, and the association long has lobbied for issues pertaining to the active duty force. Advocating a strong national defense encompasses all uniformed servicemembers.

Thorough research as well as personal encounters clearly show that many officers - both active duty and retired officers in second careers - are deterred from membership by the word "retired." A name change would help ensure the organization's future strength and allow troa to continue to be a powerful force working for retired officers.

To review the rationale behind the name change, including research about its impact on retention of troa members in all age brackets, visit www.troa.org/namechange.

Church and State

"Our country was founded on Christian beliefs ..." proclaims Lt. Col. Glenn Miller in his recent letter ["Your Views," May 2002]. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and the rest of our founding fathers made no mention in the Declaration of Independence of Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Islamic, or any other religious beliefs. They stood for freedom of all religions and even the right to have no religious beliefs as signified by the separation of church and state. Miller also states that the ACLU has managed to get God removed from our school history books. I hold no brief for the ACLU, but I must point out that it was not the ACLU but the federal judges of our nation, appointed by our presidents and confirmed by the Senate, who removed the mention of God in state-sponsored activities. These judges were not anti-God. They were following the principle of separation of church and state and believed that God belongs in churches, synagogues, mosques, and homes.

Col. Jack Rabin, USAR-Ret.
via e-mail

Lt. Col. Glenn Miller accuses the ACLU of "extreme anti-God beliefs." Miller has a total misunderstanding of both the ACLU and of the U.S. Constitution. Far from attacking religious liberty, the ACLU is the premier organization in this country working to preserve religious liberty. It does this by making sure that no religious beliefs get mixed up with government in violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution.

The United States was not founded as a Christian country. Many of the founders were deists who had good knowledge of the persecution (mostly by Christians against other Christians) that can occur when religion gets mixed up in government. They wanted the U.S. government to be secular and totally neutral with respect to religion, hence the First Amendment. The ACLU works hard to maintain that separation of church and state. "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God that which is God's."

Capt. A. Schneider, USAF-Ret.
Centerville, Ohio

Every Dog Has Its Day

Here are a few other facts about "Rinty" ["Steadfast Sentinels," May 2002]:

• Duncan took two German shepherd puppies back to the States with him, Rin Tin Tin and Nanette (Nanette died of pneumonia shortly after Duncan returned home). Duncan named Rin Tin Tin after finger-length dolls French soldiers carried with them into battle for good luck.
• At the peak of his career in the late 1920s, Rin Tin Tin received 12,000 fan letters a week, earned $6,000 a month, was insured for $100,000, and had a press agent, a valet, and a chef who prepared chateaubriand with all the trimmings.
• When Rin Tin Tin collapsed and died at the age of 14 while playing on the front lawn of Duncan's home, Duncan was joined in his grief by his next door neighbor, famed actress Jean Harlow. What a way to go!

Capt. James E. Wise Jr., USN-Ret.
via e-mail

Tennis, Anyone?

Ask Sherry Ballou Hanson ["Playing It Safe," May 2002] how to play tennis without making sudden stops and starts (her suggestion on how to avoid ankle sprains). That may be sound advice in the overall scheme of things, but at my somewhat advanced age, even we more "mature" tennis players have to start and stop quickly - or as quickly as we can!

I'm being a picky old fart but just couldn't let that one slide.

Col. David J. Sholly, USA-Ret.
Carmel, Ind.

The Wright Stuff

In "Our Nation's Hangar" [March 2002], Ralph Wetterhahn glossed over the controversy of the Smithsonian naming the new national air and space museum the Udvar-Hazy Center in honor of the multimillionaire who donated $66 million to the project. There are many who say the Smithsonian, in effect, sold the name of the new museum to the highest bidder.

... Steven F. Udvar-Hazy is a generous benefactor, but he owes his millions to the Wright brothers. In the name of all that is fair and just, why can't the new museum be named the Udvar-Hazy-Wright Center? If enough people with a sense of fair play raise a ruckus, maybe two of America's greatest won't be snubbed again.

Lt. Col. James Dilda, USAF-Ret.
Kernersville, N.C.