EN GARDE FOR THE MISSION IN BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI
Southern Spirit | May 2026 | Vol 42, Issue 5
By Brad Rowland
Photo Credits: David Ainsworth
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Following her retirement, Mary Chapman was in search of an active "retirement project." She joined SilverSneakers, a health and fitness program designed for retired adults, and ended up connecting with The Salvation Army Kroc Center Mississippi Gulf Coast through its water aerobics program. Little did Chapman or the staff at the Kroc Center know that this connection would grow into an innovative program through the unlikely sport of fencing.
"In a previous life, I had done fencing," Chapman says. "I'm talking about years before. But after hearing from friends about how much success fencing had in different ways, I found myself really carrying a burden to get involved with fencing and help to take it to underserved communities."
Prior to moving to Mississippi, Chapman spent time in Chicago where she became acquainted with a fencing club that was doing extraordinary things in the community, including getting scholarships for children and progressing education through fencing. She recalls that when she finally settled on the Gulf Coast for retirement, "There was a still, small voice telling me to get involved." So, she began to actively seek out fencing opportunities.
Chapman first reached out to the couple that still runs the fencing club in Chicago, inquiring how to get a local program started and seeking connections in the Mississippi area.
"I got down here and was looking everywhere, oddly enough, except the Kroc Center," says Chapman. "And I couldn't quite get it together. The pieces just wouldn't fit."
Undeterred by a few roadblocks, Chapman unearthed the email address for Danielle Emery, Kroc Center director in Biloxi, Mississippi, and sent over a fully formed pitch document. "Lo and behold, Danielle said yes," Chapman explains. "But we left the meeting needing to find some funding and a fencing coach."
While fencing is an international endeavor, the pair quickly realized that there was not a fencing community anywhere within a few hours of Biloxi, presenting a clear avenue for growth in the area. Within only a few months, and after a great deal of planning and investment, "The Fencing Academy" was officially born at the Kroc Center.
"We knew fencing would uplift and enrich our people and programs as a great opportunity to grow in mind and body," says Major Paul Egan, Mississippi Gulf Coast area commander and senior Kroc Center officer. "What I did not see coming was the benefit of being a multi-generational program. We search for fun, engaging, and organized ways to bring older and younger learners together. This one found us."
The academy is designed for youth (ages 10 and up) and adults, with a focus on the introduction of fencing fundamentals including footwork, technique, and strategy. Participants can join for a modest one-time registration fee of $25, and fencing equipment is included in that fee. At present, two weekly classes are offered on Thursday evenings, with the potential for expansion in the future, and the academy aims to provide a structured and welcoming setting for any fencing beginner.
"As much of our programming is driven by member interest, we continually strive to stay engaged with what excites our community," says Emery. "This program is unique to the Kroc Center, and we are excited to both elevate and educate participants through the art and athleticism of fencing. As with all our programs, scholarships are available for those who qualify."
One challenge in both launching and maintaining a fencing outreach is the difficulty of securing professional-level instruction. Chapman, Emery, and others, including students in the classes, rave about the connection with Colin Milner, the academy's instructor, who has nearly two decades of experience leading the sport.
While simply offering a program that is unique to the area is appealing in its own right, The Fencing Academy also brings a chance for different generations to stay active and learn together in a safe, reaffirming environment.
"I love that there is a mesh of generations together, learning at the same time, at the same speed," says Morgan Shiyou, marketing coordinator for the Kroc Center. "One of the things I love about our Kroc Center is that everyone can come together and do things together that probably wouldn't fit anywhere else."
Chapman's passion for fencing is infectious, but she also consistently refers back to a focus on young people and the investment in their future. She speaks glowingly about various success stories in the fencing world from Chicago, New York, and other areas, focusing on youth who come from challenging backgrounds and are able to grow and learn discipline through fencing.
"One of the 2024 Olympic medalists in fencing was a young African American woman who learned fencing in New York, and she was taught in a program that specifically focuses on under-resourced communities and kids that can't afford to pay big money to start," Chapman shares. "That program sees more than 90 percent of youth going to college and more than 80 percent with improved grades once they get involved in fencing. There are so many examples like this."
"Of course, being in the Olympics isn't the goal here," she continues. "The real goal is discipline. The goal is personal growth and the chance to open up opportunities. To focus on the hearts and minds of these young kids who would have never thought of this."
Ideally, The Fencing Academy, which is already showing success in its early days, will continue to grow and bear fruit for years to come. Should that come to fruition, it will be an opportunity for more and more people to engage with The Salvation Army and its overarching mission, all sprouting from a simple idea from a committed member of the Biloxi community.
"Those who attend the Kroc Center are more than customers; they are truly members," Major Egan says. "This program is a direct result of that idea."
"Mary is truly the heartbeat of the whole program," Shiyou says of Chapman. "She has put in so much effort, and research, and time, and energy, and all of that into this program. She did her due diligence the whole way, and it would not have come together without her."