Melissa Clipper is our featured speaker for the December 14th meeting. She has been the President of the Southern Nevada chapter of the Blue Star Mothers since 2015. Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. was organized in 1942, as an all-volunteer, Veterans Service Organization of Military Moms of someone currently serving in the US Armed Forces and honorably or medically discharged from the US Military. Melissa has held several National positions as well as volunteering at the local VA Women’s Health Center and the Nevada State Veterans Home.
Her US Military family legacy starts at WWI and continued with her grandfather and mentor, who served as Lt Col in the Army during WWII and her father who served as a Marine in Korea. She's a Proud Military Mom of an Army daughter, an Air Force daughter and an Air Force son. As a 3 Star Blue Star Mother, Melissa says she gave birth to her heroes.
The Blue Star Mothers work alongside many other Veteran Service Organizations to further their mission to Honor, Remember and Support U.S. Military men and women. They are involved year-round marching in parades; welcoming home our Returning Heroes and Honor Flights for our older Veterans; volunteering at Fisher House and VA Southern Nevada Medical Center; and hosting events at Nevada State Veterans Home. They have four annual events to ship care packages worldwide with "From Our Hearts To Yours" "Easter Treats 4 Troops" "Packages 4 Our Patriots" and "Stockings 4 Our Troops". With the support and the generosity of the Southern Nevada community, businesses, churches, organizations, clubs like SCA Veterans Club and many more, they will collect enough supplies to ship care packages and holiday cheer for these brave heroes.
The Veterans Club has supported their Stockings 4 Our Troops project for many years. The 2021 “stocking stuffer” event will take place: Monday, November 29, Tuesday, November 30, Wednesday, December 1, and Thursday, December 2. By our December 14th meeting, the stockings will be stuffed and on their way to our troops overseas. Melissa will report on the success of the 2021 campaign and will also introduce us further to the mission and activities of our local Blue Star Mothers.