On Monday, December 15, Star Island drew a winning name from over 110 entries for a free week-long stay on Star Island during the 2015 summer. The winner, Thomas McNaugher of McLean, VA, is an Army veteran who served in Vietnam and the first Gulf War.

“Star Island offers this modest gesture to express our deep appreciation of our veterans, which are such a worthy group to celebrate. This is our expression of gratitude for how much our veterans – including Mr. McNaugher – have given to all of us,” said Star Island CEO Joe Watts.

The second annual Veteran’s Raffle included entries from across the country. The entries represented people who have never been to Star Island and those who have been coming to Star Island for many years. McNaugher is one of those entries with some Star history. McNaugher wins a free week’s stay on Star Island this coming summer for him and his family.

“I’ve been coming to Star Island since 1992 when I was invited to speak at the International Affairs Conference. I fell in love with the place and IA’s wonderful people, and can’t imagine a summer without Star,” said McNaugher, currently a Senior Visiting Professor and Director of Studies with Georgetown University’s Security Studies Program.

Star Island’s Veteran’s Raffle provides a free week’s stay on Star to the winning veteran and his or her family. In 2013, the first Veteran’s Raffle winners were Brian Morrow of Addison, IL and Melissa Bailey of San Antonio, TX.

Star Island is one of the Isles of Shoals about an hour’s boat ride off the New Hampshire coast. Since 1897, people have gathered on Star for multi-generational conferences and programs that aim to understand the world as it might ideally be. Consistent with the principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ, the non-profit Star Island provides a spiritual retreat location where all are welcome.