The Citrus County Tax Office (CCTO) spring fundraising campaign, in partnership with the Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), presented a check for $21,357.11 for the benefit of the Citrus County Veterans Foundation that provides financial assistance to honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses in urgent need. Front row from Left: Richard Hunt, Chapter 776 Commander; Barbara Mills, CCVF Director; Teresa Williams (CCTO DHSMV Administrator); Curt Ebitz, CCVF President; Diana Finegan, CCVF Director; John McGee, CCVF Director. Middle row from left: Mari-Elain Ebitz, Chapter 776 Associate; Susan Waugh, Tammy Smith, Bonita Tholund and Lydia Dunn, CCTO Customer Service Representatives; Terri Harrison, CCVF Sevretary; Philip Watson, Citrus County Veterans Service Office Manager. Back row from left: Bill Merryman, Chapter 776 Trustee; Ann Fair, Chapter 776 Associate (Not seen); Kim Frease, Chapter 776 Associate; Jerry Frease, Chapter 776 Americanism Officer; Joe McCLister, Chapter 776 Finance officer; Dan Robbins, CCVF Director; Doug Hockenberry, CCVF DIrector.

During the Purple Heart breakfast hosted by the Inverness Elks Lodge #2522 commemorating the 242nd anniversary of the Purple Heart, the Citrus County Building Alliance (CCBA) presented a $5,000 donation from the CCBA's 29th Annual Family Fishing Tournament proceeds to the Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart as the tournament's charitable partner. Left: Curt Ebitz, Chuck Kanehl, Will Korber, Bob Gibson, Kayla Carroll, John Porter, Dusty Porter, Marie Brotnisky, and Richard Hunt.

During the annual Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) Armed Forces Day picnic, Macie Waller and Cortlyn McClain of Citrus High School were recognized as the recipients of the $1,500 Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776/College of Central Florida Endowed Scholarship and the $1,500 Sgt. Dennis J. Flanagan Memorial Scholarship, respectively.  

From left: Richard Hunt, Chapter 776 Commander; Macie Waller, scholarship recipient; Nancy Weaver Dalton, widow of CWO Aaron Weaver; Scott Hebert, Assistant Superintendent of Citrus County Schools.  Cortlyn McClain not available.

Chapter 776 was also recognized as the MOPH Department of Florida Chapter of the Year, as well as Chapter 776 members Gary Bain, Sandra Cross, and Frank Hayes who had the distinct honor of being recognized as both the MOPH Department of Florida and Chapter 776 Patriot, Associate and Volunteer of the Year, respectively, giving Chapter 776 a clean sweep of all the 2024 Department of Florida awards. 

From left: Richard Hunt, Chapter 776 Commander; Lou Barnes, Senior Vice Commander MOPH Department of Florida; Gary Bain, Chapter 776 & MOPH Florida Patriot of the Year; Sandra Cross, Chapter 776 & MOPH Florida Associate of the Year; Frank Hayes, Chapter 776 & MOPH Florida Volunteer of the Year.

Newly elected Chapter 776 officers for 2024-25

The 2024-25 officers for Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart were administered the Oath of Office by Past Chapter 776 Commander J.B. Haskins during the Chapter's March bimonthly meeting. 

From left: Jerry Frease, Americanism Officer; Gary Bain, Sr. Vice Commander; 

Richard Hunt, Commander; Robert Gibson, Sergeant at Arms; Joe McClister, Finance Officer; Mickey Hunt, Welfare Officer; Curt Ebitz, Adjutant; Will Korber, 1-Year Trustee. Not present: Chuck Kanehl, Jr. Vice Commander; Bill Merryman, 2-Year Trustee; John Carlson, Judge Advocate; Troy Allen, Chaplain.

2023

2023 Purple Heart Breakfast

The Citrus County Veterans Foundation (CCVF) and Chapter 776 recognized the Citrus County Tax Collector Office and its top three fundraisers for their recent fundraising campaign that raised $10,453.04 for the benefit of the CCVF.

Chapter 776 Cdr. Richard Hunt presented Citrus County Property Appraiser Cregg Dalton a Purple Heart coffee mug for his presentation on property tax exemptions and discounts for disabled veterans.