Since inception, Chapter 776 has grown to 130 Patriot members and 49 Associate members who are primarily from Citrus and Hernando counties. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart
In April 2004, a group of 17 combat wounded veterans, comprised of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, gathered to organize a chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) in Citrus County, Florida. At the April organizational meeting, the combat wounded veterans in attendance voted unanimously to form a MOPH chapter for the purpose of "Preserving the proud legacy of the Purple Heart Medal" and to name the chapter in honor of Chief Warrant Officer Aaron A. Aaron was killed in Iraq on January 8, 2004, when the UH-60 helicopter in which he was a passenger was brought down by hostile ground fire with no survivors. Aaron, an Army aviator and Ranger, was a Citrus County native and a graduate of Citrus High School and Central Florida Community College, which is now the College of Central Florida. An election of officers was also held with Curt Ebitz, a Vietnam veteran, elected as the chapter's first commander. On August 11, 2004, the chapter was officially chartered under the hand and seal of the National Commander, Military Order of the Purple Heart of the United States of America, Inc. Chapter 776 has the distinction of having one of its members selected as the 2016 MOPH U.S.A. National Patriot of the Year and two of its members inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame. The Chapter 776/Citrus County Tax Collector Office fundraising partnership has raised over $235,000 for the benefit of the Citrus County Veterans Foundation, which is Chapter 776’s principal charity.
