League Press

As so many forget…

jarhead@mcl260.org — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:32:00 GMT

Normally I do not post videos or a lot of materials that are circulated via email but one I received was so compelling to the me as an American that I just could not resist. This video is educational to all Americans and non political.

Please click on this link to view a speech by Oliver North on our American Forces presented at the 2009 National meeting of The American Rifle Association.

“Thanks to Those Who Give All.”

Steve Winsett
USMC Vet

Gunny Claus – 1st Reindeer Div. MCB North Pole

jarhead@mcl260.org — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:01:00 GMT

With the help of some Marine Corps Christmas Magic a few Fire trucks, armored vehicles and helicopters Gunny Claus made his tour of Marine Corps Bases Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point and New River. Visiting 26 Marine Corps Units this year, Gunny Claus showed up to bring Christmas cheer to 2119 Marine Corps Kids and over 4000 Marines with a few visits to the Jacksonville USO.

Christmas is safe! A special time for Marines, Christmas is a time for remembering Marines who are serving this great Nation, not only in Afghanistan but also at the many duty stations around the world. We send our best to those not fortunate to be with family at Christmas and also their wonderful Marine kids and family.

The Gunny Claus tour at Camp Lejeune began several years ago with the Wounded Warriors Battalion East and has expanded to Units Deployed and returning from deployment along with those great Marines and families that keep the ship afloat.

For those who remember the great contributions given the League by these 2 Marines; Sergeants Major Steve Thomas and Alex Dobson send a Merry Christmas to all.

Units included:

2nd Combat Engineer Battalion
2nd Marine Regiment
VMM 261
2nd LAAD
HMH 366
8th Marine Regiment
Hope for the Warriors
MWSG 27
2nd Tank Battalion 2nd Mar Div
USO Jacksonville
3rd Bn 8th Marines
VMR 1
Midway Park SNCO Wives Club
Wounded Warriors Battalion East
Combat Logistics Group 26
Camp Lejeune Swim Team
1st Bn 8th Marines
5th Bn 10th Marines
6th Marine Regiment
Headquarters Battery 10th Marine Regiment
3rd Bn 10th Marines
HML/A 167
2nd BN 9th Marines

Dec 25 - USO Jacksonville

For more information on Gunny Claus

Gunny Claus Stands his Post (The Camp Lejeune Globe)

USO Serves 1300 Marines Christmas Day (Channel 9 Jacksonville)

Gunny Claus Official Web-site

During the Holidays Gunny Claus topped the main page of

Maine Corps Installations East
http://www.marines.mil/unit/mcieast/Pages/default.aspx

The Official Web site of Camp Lejeune
http://www.lejeune.usmc.mil/

Toys for Tots Train!

jarhead@mcl260.org — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:33:00 GMT

Story by Bob Petka

Don White of the L/Cpl Alan D. Lam Detachment #1209 of the Marine Corps League spent most of the year constructing the Toys For Tots Train. Don described his efforts & said, "This was a labor of love for all the children and youngsters in the area -- there are a few odds and ends before it is completely finished but essentially it is good to go!".

The train helped us double the toys distributed in our 2009 Toys For Tots Campaign!

Don had a great time & was the key attraction with all of the spectators as "engineer" for the first inaugural run in the Burlington NC Parade (21 NOV 2009). The train also participated in parades at Mebane and Gibsonville but were rained out in Graham.

1st Annual USMCR Freedom 5K Run/Walk !

jarhead@mcl260.org — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:04:00 GMT

Proceeds go to Hope for the Warriors www.hopeforthewarriors.org

For more information go to www.greensboromarines.com

Don’t miss your opportunity to show support for Marine Reserves – plan to take part in the 1^st Annual USMCR Freedom 5k Run/Walk. Come out to take part in a 5k chip-timed course starting and ending at the Triad Armed Forces Reserve Center. You can run with a group of over 100 local Marines, some of which will be will be running in formation and singing military cadences the entire route.

After the run/walk, you can take a tour of the Reserve Training Facility, where Reserve elements of the US Navy, US Army, and the US Marines train. There will be also be various items on display including Communications Equipment, military gear and weapons as well as HumVee rides.

This will be a great event to show your support for the Marines that live and work in our local community. In addition, a portion of all proceeds raised will be donated to the Wounded Warriors Barracks at Camp Lejeune, NC.

Date: Saturday, October 10, 2009

Time:

Registration: 0700 – 0830

Chip Pickup: 0700 – 0845

5k Run/Walk: 0900

Awards: 1030

Cost: By Sept 15 After Sept 15

Chip-Timed Runners $25 $30

Walkers/non-timed Runners $20 $25

Awards:

Top 3 Finishers

Top 3 in Age Divisions

Overall top Male and Female

The Course:

Race will start and finish at the Triad Armed Forces Reserve Center. The course is modeled off of the actual course the Marines use to do their annual PFT (Physical Fitness Testing).

For more information go to www.greensboromarines.com

USMC Color Guard

jarhead@mcl260.org — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:12:46 GMT

The United States Marine Corps Color Guard is unique. It includes the National Colors, carried by the Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps and is the only official Battle Color of the United States Marines.

A duplicate is maintained in the office of the Commandant of the Marine Corps in the Pentagon.

The Battle Colors bear the same fifty-four streamers authorized for the Marine Corps as a whole. These streamers represent U.S. and foreign unit awards as well as those periods of service, expeditions, and campaigns in which the Marine Corps has participated from the American Revolution to today. During the Marine Corps' first 150 years, Marines in the field carried a variety of flags.

It was not until 18 April 1925 that Marine Corps Order Number 4 designated gold and scarlet as the official colors of the U.S. Marine Corps. These colors, however, were not reflected in the official Marine Corps flag until 18 January 1939 when a new design incorporating the new colors was approved. This design was essentially that of today's Marine Corps standard, and was the result of a two-year study concerning the design of a standard Marine Corps flag, and the units to which such a flag should be issued.

The fifty-four colored streamers which adorn the Battle Colors represent the history and accomplishments of the Marine Corps. The newest streamer to be added to the Battle Colors is the Iraq Campaign Streamer, awarded for service in various Iraq operations beginning in 2003.

The Color Sergeant carries the National Ensign during ceremonies, the Presidential Color for all White House State functions and tours and carries the National Ensign with the Marine Corps Battle Color Detachment. He heads the Marine Color Guard Section of Company A, Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., which performs for parades, ceremonies and official functions around the United States and abroad

Marine Volunteering - who, where, what ,when and how

jarhead@mcl260.org — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:13:00 GMT

You know that step forward thing that so many step back on!

Societies Definition:

As defined: Volunteering is the practice of people working on behalf of others without being motivated by financial or material gain. Volunteering generally considered an altruistic (that means selfless guys) activity, intended to promote good or improve human quality of life. People also volunteer to gain skills without requiring an employer's financial investment.

Marine Definition:

Giving back to a great Nation so that we can protect the values of the foundation that our communities where built upon, freedom. To develop sound support to those who serve in the Armed Forces of America and because the Gunny told me to do it!

There is Marines Helping Marines, a common easy to understand volunteer task for those who serve in the Marine Corps who carry their brotherhood skills throughout life.

Then there are those who have endured many hardships in the campaigns in which we have been deployed, realizing that giving back to the Corps is a significant part of the cure.

The veteran support systems in place in our society may never be adequate to compensate for bravery, this is why we take it upon ourselves to make an effort to overcome adversity both in the aid of those who serve and the communities in which we live.

In combat a Marine General will "evac" a Private on his shoulders to remove him from harm's way, a Private will "evac" a General on his shoulders to move him out of harm's way. "He ain't heavy he's my brother." We overcome adversity with fortitude. It takes fortitude to volunteer. The compassion we develop from the brotherhood of the Marine Corps develops the strongest of character in many of us.

I personally think people volunteer solely for themselves in an effort to better themselves. That quest, that adamant resolve of empty issues that causes confusion when you see things could be better. The void in one's life that can only be filled by the confidence that you know you helped somebody.

To give things have a little perspective, if the 2000 plus Marine Corps League members in the State of North Carolina helped one veteran a year, we have provided assistance to 2000 veterans. By any standard that is a major impact on our society and to those who serve this great Nation. You can only imagine if each member helped one boy scout a year or one other Marine a year.

This confidence is within each and every one of us, you need only take that one step forward to find it. Rule of thumb is 10% of the group does 100% of the work. More people need to take that step forward and change the percentages. Volunteering is not a full time job and it comes with honor not shame.

Never forget the Marine standing next to you, ease his burden, Volunteer.

Semper Fi,

Steve Winsett

A Proud Volunteer

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Department of Defense Launches new Website

jarhead@mcl260.org — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:48:08 GMT

The Department of Defense today launched a new home page, http://www.Defense.gov , designed to invite participation from the public and make military news and information more accessible. The new Web site will provide quick access to those sites that are most sought by Web site visitors, including DoD social media sites, the Pentagon Channel and DoD news stories.

Prominent on the new home page is a new “We Want to Hear From You” feature that will give users the opportunity to ask questions of Defense Department leaders, vote on policy issues they want explained, and explore frequently asked questions and answers. The new site, http://www.Defense.gov , replaces http://www.DefenseLink.mil as the department’s main Internet entry portal. DefenseLink will remain a news Web site and may be accessed from Defense.gov. Visit us online: http://www.defense.gov .

It’s a small Marine World !

jarhead@mcl260.org — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:30:00 GMT

You just never know when you are going to run into a Marine you served with. Recently the amazement was enjoyed by three Marines in North Carolina that have been working with each other for years!

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Homeless: from protecting the streets in America to living in the streets.

jarhead@mcl260.org — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:27:47 GMT

The above is a Marine standing in a “med line” at a homeless shelter, he fought two tours in Iraq.
Why! and that is not a question.

I have been working with the Triad Homeless Veterans Stand down along with a handful of Marine volunteers for the last 4 years. This is a well organized event that once a year reaches out to several counties in the area to help homeless veterans. Held at the National Guard Armory in Greensboro, the event provides minor first aid, dental services, a shower, clothing and a hot meal to hundreds of homeless veterans.

Most people turn there heads when they see a homeless vet with no regards to his service to this Country and with no notion of why he or her is homeless. Some are without work, some are dealing with PTSD or other mental illnesses that make living in our society confusing. Some left home to serve as a kid and came back as a man only to find their family had abandoned them. Of the 200,000 homeless veterans in this country many are combat veterans and approximately 2000 are from the war in Iraq. Many are Vietnam Vets and yes many are from the Greatest Generation WWII vets, surviving best they can after retirement funds and other hardships have left them with no alternative.

In North Carolina there are several Veteran Homeless Stand Downs and efforts through the year. We will post them as we get the dates and other information. If you can, join in with us and help these vets from all branches. You never know, it could someone you served with, and with the economy the way it is be prepared to see more vets down on their luck.

And as always, Best bet Hire a Vet

Semper Fi

Steve Winsett

Vietnam Memorial Dedication Jacksonville NC

jarhead@mcl260.org — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:27:00 GMT

Vietnam Memorial Dedication

"Jacksonville/Camp Lejeune: June 13, 2009:

The formal dedication/ribbon-cutting ceremony for Phase One of the Onslow Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be held at 11am on Saturday June 13th. The event is free & open to the public.

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