Great Web Page on Marine Aviation Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
The Marine Corps League Mission Statement
From the National Marine Corps League Web Page
Members of the Marine Corps League join together in camaraderie and fellowship for the purpose of preserving the traditions and promoting the interests of the United States Marine Corps, banding together those who are now serving in the United States Marine Corps and those who have been honorably discharged from that service that they may effectively promote the ideals of American freedom and democracy, voluntarily aiding and rendering assistance to all Marines and former Marines and to their widows and orphans; and to perpetuate the history of the United States Marine Corps and by fitting acts to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines.
History
The Marine Corps League perpetuates the traditions and spirit of ALL Marines and Navy FMF Corpsmen, who proudly wear or who have worn the eagle, globe and anchor of the Corps. It takes great pride in crediting its founding in 1923 to World War I hero, then Major General Commandant John A. Lejeune. It takes equal pride in its Federal Charter, approved by An Act of the Seventy-Fifth Congress of the United States of America and signed and approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 4, 1937. The League is the only Federally Chartered Marine Corps related veterans organization in the country. Since its earliest days, the Marine Corps League has enjoyed the support and encouragement of the active duty and Reserve establishments of the U. S. Marine Corps. Today, the League boasts a membership of nearly 61,000 men and women, officer and enlisted, active duty, Reserve Marines, honorably discharged Marine Veterans and qualified Navy FMF Corpsmen and is one of the few Veterans Organizations that experiences increases in its membership each year.
The Marine Corps League is headed by an elected National Commandant, with 14 elected National Staff Officers who serve as trustees. The National Board of Trustees coordinates the efforts of 48 department, or state, entities and the activities of over 900 community-based detachments located throughout the United States and overseas. The day-to-day operations of the League are under the control of the National Executive Director with the responsibility for the management and direction of all programs, activities, and affairs of the Marine Corps League as well as supervising the National Headquarters staff.
The prime authority of the League is derived from its Congressional charter and from its annual National Convention held each August in different major U.S. cities throughout the nation. It is a not-for-profit organization within the provisions of the Internal Revenue Service Code 501(c) (4), with a special group exemption letter which allows for contributions to the Marine Corps League, its Auxiliary and subsidiary units, to be tax deductible by the donor.
PROGRAMS OF THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
MARINES HELPING MARINES - WOUNDED MARINES PROGRAM
The program was created to support injured Marine Corps personnel located at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, Brooke Army hospital in San Antonio, as well as the Naval Hospitals at Balboa, Camp Pendleton and elsewhere. The scope of support encompasses; financial, visits from Marine Corps League members, off site day trips to include family outings, dinners, short trips in support of the individual Marines’ needs and professional sporting events as tickets and opportunities present themselves.
YOUNG MARINES OF THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
A youth program emphasizing honesty, courage, respect, industry, loyalty, dependability, and a sense of devotion to God, country, community and family. The Young Marines program receives funding from Congress and the United States Marine Corps primarily because of their drug interdiction focus on drug education and prevention.
U. S. MARINES YOUTH PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAM
The League developed and administers a program that provides a physical fitness regimen that promotes a healthy, drug free life style for elementary and high school students.
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
The Marine Corps League has long regarded the program of the Boy Scouts of America as in support of the Preamble of the Constitution of the League. The League supports the Boy Scouts of America as they promote traditional family values to America’s youth. The Marine Corps League participates in Scouting through assistance with units, districts, and councils, in community projects, merit badge programs, and special recognition of Eagle Scouts.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Members of the Marine Corps League fund scholarships through donations from individual members and subordinate units of the Marine Corps League and Auxiliary. Children and former Marines are eligible for academic scholarships for attendance at accredited colleges and universities.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
The Marine Corps League is a member of The Military Coalition and participates in National and State legislative issues that affect military readiness, benefits and entitlements of active duty personnel as well as Veterans Benefits programs effecting former and retired Marines.
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER PROGRAM
The National Headquarters retains a full-time staff member who assists veterans in adjudicating claims against the government as a result of active duty service. Claims are processed through the Department of Veterans Affairs or other appropriate agencies of the federal government.
VETERANS AFFAIRS VOLUNTARY SERVICE PROGRAM (VAVS)
Marine Corps League members contribute thousands of man-hours each year supplementing staffs at VA Hospitals and facilities in providing morale, comfort and assistance to institutionalized veterans.
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE AUXILIARY
The Marine Corps League Auxiliary was chartered on September 4, 1937 as a subsidiary organization of the Marine Corps League. On August 25, 1950, the Auxiliary was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia as an affiliate of the Marine Corps League. The Auxiliary was formed for the purposes of promoting the interests of the U. S. Marine Corps, the Marine Corps League and to protect and advance the welfare of Marines and their dependents. Auxiliary members participate in a wide variety of programs that benefit and preserve the fundamental rights and freedoms of every person of this Nation, young and old.
MILITARY ORDER OF DEVIL DOGS
The fun and honor society of the Marine Corps League.
TOYS-FOR-TOTS
Marine Corps League Detachments in nearly every community take part annually in the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys-For-Tots campaign to raise funds and collect and distribute toys to needy children. In communities where there is an existing Marine Corps Reserve Unit, the League works hand in hand supporting their campaign. In other communities, the Marine Corps League takes the lead, ensuring a successful campaign.
MARINE-4-LIFE/INJURED MARINE SUPPORT PROGRAM
The League works very closely with the Marine Corps’ M-4-L program, providing mentors nationwide. In areas of the country where there is no Marine Corps “point of contact”, the League works directly with M-4-L Headquarters to provide services to transitioning Marines.
ANNUAL CONVENTIONS
Members find the State and National Conventions of the League ideal vacation venues for themselves and family members. Held in a different city each year, many families attend year after year and particularly enjoy the many planned activities and tours related to these get-togethers.
The Marine Corps League is a charter member of The Military Coalition, The National Marine Corps Council, AdHoc Committee, Navy and Marine Corps Council, the National Veterans Day Committee, and is represented on countless committees and programs serving the military and veteran community.
The League participates in patriotic functions such as the National Memorial Day Parade and the National 4th of July Parade in Washington as well as countless statewide and community parades around the country. We provide representation to the U.S. Congress in legislative matters affecting the United States Marine Corps, national security and veteran’s benefits through our National Legislative Committee. Most importantly, Marine Corps League Detachments are actively involved in Community based programs throughout the country.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
3200 Marines to deploy to Afghanistan
Some of you may find this interesting. I like the undersecretary's comment that this is a 'one time only' deployment. 24 MEU and the Grunts from 2/7 based at 29 Palms are going.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_marinesafghanistan_070114/
Mike P. Mccarthy
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_marinesafghanistan_070114/
Mike P. Mccarthy
The Pledge of Allegiance
John McCain's remarks about the Pledge of Allegiance
In light of the recent appeals court ruling in California, with respect to the Pledge of Allegiance, the following recollection from Senator John McCain is very appropriate:
'The Pledge of Allegiance' - by Senator John McCain
"As you may know, I spent five and one half years as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. In the early years of our imprisonment, the NVA kept us in solitary confinement or two or three to a cell. In 1971 the NVA moved us from these conditions of isolation into large rooms with as many as 30 to 40 men to a room.
This was, as you can imagine, a wonderful change and was a direct result of the efforts of millions of Americans on behalf of a few hundred POWs 10,000 miles from home.
One of the men who moved into my room was a young man named Mike Christian.
Mike came from a small town near Selma , Alabama He didn't wear a pair of shoes until he was 13 years old. At 17, he enlisted in the US Navy. He later earned a commission by going to Officer Training School Then he became a Naval Flight Officer and was shot down and captured in 1967. Mike had a keen and deep appreciation of the opportunities this country and our military provide for people who want to work and want to succeed.
As part of the change in treatment, the Vietnamese allowed some prisoners to receive packages from home. In some of these packages were handkerchiefs, scarves and other items of clothing.
Mike got himself a bamboo needle. Over a period of a couple of months, he created an American flag and sewed it on the inside of his shirt.
Every afternoon, before we had a bowl of soup, we would hang Mike's shirt on the wall of the cell and say the Pledge of Allegiance.
I know the Pledge of Allegiance may not seem the most important part of our day now, but I can assure you that in that stark cell it was indeed the most important and meaningful event.
One day the Vietnamese searched our cell, as they did periodically, and discovered Mike's shirt with the flag sewn inside, and removed it.
That evening they returned, opened the door of the cell, and for the benefit of all of us, beat Mike Christian severely for the next couple of hours. Then, they opened the door of the cell and threw him in. We cleaned him up as well as we could.
The cell in which we lived had a concrete slab in the middle on which we slept. Four naked light bulbs hung in each corner of the room.
As I said, we tried to clean up Mike as well as we could. After the excitement died down, I looked in the corner of the room, and sitting there beneath that dim light bulb with a piece of red cloth, another shirt and his bamboo needle, was my friend, Mike Christian. He was sitting there with his eyes almost shut from the beating he had received, making another American flag. He was not making the flag because it made Mike Christian feel better. He was making that flag because he knew how important it was to us to be able to Pledge our allegiance to our flag and country.
So the next time you say the Pledge of Allegiance, you must never forget the sacrifice and courage that thousands of Americans have made to build our nation and promote freedom around the world. You must remember our duty, our honor, and our country."
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
In light of the recent appeals court ruling in California, with respect to the Pledge of Allegiance, the following recollection from Senator John McCain is very appropriate:
'The Pledge of Allegiance' - by Senator John McCain
"As you may know, I spent five and one half years as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. In the early years of our imprisonment, the NVA kept us in solitary confinement or two or three to a cell. In 1971 the NVA moved us from these conditions of isolation into large rooms with as many as 30 to 40 men to a room.
This was, as you can imagine, a wonderful change and was a direct result of the efforts of millions of Americans on behalf of a few hundred POWs 10,000 miles from home.
One of the men who moved into my room was a young man named Mike Christian.
Mike came from a small town near Selma , Alabama He didn't wear a pair of shoes until he was 13 years old. At 17, he enlisted in the US Navy. He later earned a commission by going to Officer Training School Then he became a Naval Flight Officer and was shot down and captured in 1967. Mike had a keen and deep appreciation of the opportunities this country and our military provide for people who want to work and want to succeed.
As part of the change in treatment, the Vietnamese allowed some prisoners to receive packages from home. In some of these packages were handkerchiefs, scarves and other items of clothing.
Mike got himself a bamboo needle. Over a period of a couple of months, he created an American flag and sewed it on the inside of his shirt.
Every afternoon, before we had a bowl of soup, we would hang Mike's shirt on the wall of the cell and say the Pledge of Allegiance.
I know the Pledge of Allegiance may not seem the most important part of our day now, but I can assure you that in that stark cell it was indeed the most important and meaningful event.
One day the Vietnamese searched our cell, as they did periodically, and discovered Mike's shirt with the flag sewn inside, and removed it.
That evening they returned, opened the door of the cell, and for the benefit of all of us, beat Mike Christian severely for the next couple of hours. Then, they opened the door of the cell and threw him in. We cleaned him up as well as we could.
The cell in which we lived had a concrete slab in the middle on which we slept. Four naked light bulbs hung in each corner of the room.
As I said, we tried to clean up Mike as well as we could. After the excitement died down, I looked in the corner of the room, and sitting there beneath that dim light bulb with a piece of red cloth, another shirt and his bamboo needle, was my friend, Mike Christian. He was sitting there with his eyes almost shut from the beating he had received, making another American flag. He was not making the flag because it made Mike Christian feel better. He was making that flag because he knew how important it was to us to be able to Pledge our allegiance to our flag and country.
So the next time you say the Pledge of Allegiance, you must never forget the sacrifice and courage that thousands of Americans have made to build our nation and promote freedom around the world. You must remember our duty, our honor, and our country."
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Monday, January 14, 2008
Peoria Times Observer
An excellent article was recently published on the front page of the Peoria Times Observer featuring our Marine Corps League.
This paper is delivered free and serves north Peoria. Extra copies can be purchased for $1.00.
A copy of the article will be available at the next meeting for those who did not see it.
This paper is delivered free and serves north Peoria. Extra copies can be purchased for $1.00.
A copy of the article will be available at the next meeting for those who did not see it.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Valentine's for Troops
PEORIA - The UPS Store will provide free first-class postage for Valentine's Day greetings to U.S. troops and veterans.
Beginning Monday, Operation: Sealed With a Kiss will provide free first-class postage for one-ounce letters addressed to military personnel stationed overseas or to veterans in hospitals.
Mail must be addressed to a specific U.S. serviceman or woman at an assigned APO/FPO address or to a specific veteran in a VA hospital. Eligible letters must also have a valid return address.
Loeb recommends sending greetings by Jan. 31 for international delivery by Valentine's Day, but mail will be accepted through Feb. 14.
Greetings may be dropped off at the Peoria UPS Store, 4408 North Rockwood Road, or the Pekin UPS Store, 3420 Veterans Drive.
Beginning Monday, Operation: Sealed With a Kiss will provide free first-class postage for one-ounce letters addressed to military personnel stationed overseas or to veterans in hospitals.
Mail must be addressed to a specific U.S. serviceman or woman at an assigned APO/FPO address or to a specific veteran in a VA hospital. Eligible letters must also have a valid return address.
Loeb recommends sending greetings by Jan. 31 for international delivery by Valentine's Day, but mail will be accepted through Feb. 14.
Greetings may be dropped off at the Peoria UPS Store, 4408 North Rockwood Road, or the Pekin UPS Store, 3420 Veterans Drive.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Marine Corps League of Peoria # 081
This page is the official page of the Marine Corps League of Peoria # 081. Our Navy and Marine Corps Club is located at 1310 E. Seiberling Ave Peoria Heights, IL 61616 (309) 682-8100.Any Marine with an honorable discharge is welcome to join our League. We meet at 1930 (7:30 pm for you Marines who have really taken off your pack) on the first Wednesday of each month.
We support veteran's organizations, The Illinois Veteran's Home in LaSalle, Company "C" (our Marines), Toys for Tots, Wounded Warrior's, as well as provide camaraderie for local Marines. Once a Marine, Always a Marine.
National Marine Corps League Web Page http://www.mcleague.org/
Marine Corps League Auxiliary Web Page http://www.nationalmcla.org/
Marine Corps League Illinois http://www.theillinoismarine.com/
United States Marine Corps http://www.marines.com/
Peoria Leathernecks at http://www.mcleague.com/mdp/userpages/PEORIA_LEATHERNECKS-186.php
Once a Marine, Always a Marine. Semper Fi!!!
Charlie Company, 6th Engineer Support Battalion
The History of Peoria's own Charlie Company, 6th Engineer Support Battalion.Our thanks to this fine unit.
Semper Fi
New Illinois Laws
here a couple of new Illinois laws relevant to Military community.
Gold Star license plate - HB167/PA95-0034 - Makes available specially designated "Gold Star" license plates to certain Illinois residents whose loved ones died while serving in the U.S. military.
Military scholarships - HB486/PA95-0064 - Adds Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom to the list of military conflicts for which each Illinois county receives one annual, honorary scholarship to the University of Illinois. The scholarships are awarded to children of veterans.
Gold Star license plate - HB167/PA95-0034 - Makes available specially designated "Gold Star" license plates to certain Illinois residents whose loved ones died while serving in the U.S. military.
Military scholarships - HB486/PA95-0064 - Adds Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom to the list of military conflicts for which each Illinois county receives one annual, honorary scholarship to the University of Illinois. The scholarships are awarded to children of veterans.
Freedom
" For those who fight for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know!"
Found written on a c-ration box after the seige of Khe Sanh
Found written on a c-ration box after the seige of Khe Sanh
Next Meeting
The next Marine Corps League meeting will be held Wed. February 6, 730p.m. @ Navy, Marine Club, Seiberling, Peoria Heights.
See you there!!
See you there!!
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