October 6th, Smoky Mountain Satellite held a “hybrid” satellite meeting at the Jonathan Creek VFD outside pavilion. In addition to the meeting being held outside, an FM transmitter was on standby for participants who might prefer to sit in their vehicles and listen to the meeting via their vehicle radios. Guest speaker, Patrick Johnson, Director of Haywood Co. DHHS, and Retired USAF Col, discussed COVID and provided Q&A. The meeting also served as a farewell for David McCracken, who is departing the area. Best of Luck, David!

With the upcoming departure of David and Kathie McCracken from the area, Craig Love (CAPT, USN, (Ret)) has stepped up to lead the Smoky Mountain Satellite. Meet Craig:

After enlisted tours in the USAF, Air National Guard and the Navy, Craig was commissioned and designated a Naval Flight Officer on the P-3 aircraft. His next 26 years of active service consisted of various assignments of increasing responsibility in aviation patrol squadrons, onboard Naval Air Stations, and on major aviation staffs. He retired from active duty in 2006 at the rank of Captain. In 2015, he and his wife moved to Western North Carolina where he soon started volunteering with the American Red Cross as their Outreach Lead in the Service to the Armed Forces department.