AFA Chapter #226: Duluth, MN ~ Click to join AFA
Next meeting is on 4 December, 2024 at Duluth Olive Garden restaurant. We will have a book review/discussion event. Focus book is "Surviving Hell" by Leo Thorsness.
Lt Col Bryan Graddy (Ret.), Bong chapter president, welcomes you to Richard I Bong Chapter's web page. Bong chapter's membership includes about 130 members of the Air Force community in Duluth, MN.
The chapter holds quarterly meetings. At present, meeting sites are at restaurants in Duluth area. Contact Bryan for details.
4 Dec 24 Quarterly Book Review Meeting @ Olive Garden Restaurant, Duluth
4 Apr 25 Annual MN State AFA Awards Dinner, Univ. of St. Thomas, St. Paul
X Sep 25 Tailgate at UMD Military Appreciation Football Game
AFA Chapter 226 has a rich history. It was founded by the former Commander of the 23rd Air Division, Air Defense Command, Charles Bishop, who in the spring of 1981 went into the Duluth business community and recruited 49 business and other people to charter the Head of the Lakes Chapter. Charter meeting was held May 18, 1981.
The second Chapter President John (Jack) Swanstrom, Swanstrom Tools, determined the Chapter name should be changed to the Richard I Bong Chapter. He obtained the permission of the Bong family to do so. He petitioned AFA HQ to approve in December 1984. The charter name was changed with the original charter date of Aug 11, 1981 retained.
Chapter membership grew to over 250 members residing in the surrounding MN and WI area. The Chapter endorsed the MN Air National Guard 148th FW with special recognition of their Airmen of the Year recipients. Unit members continued in chapter leadership roles over the years. The chapter established a $500 Civil Air Patrol Cadet Scholarship fund, in support of the Duluth Composite Sqd Civil air Patrol.
Contact us at: afachapter226@gmail.com
BONG CHAPTER OFFICERS
President Lt. Colonel Bryan Graddy
Vice-President Tim Nesley
Treasurer Pete Broman
Secretary Vacant
Military/Veteran Affairs -ANG Liaison Keith Bischoff keithb.dlh@juno.com
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