Marine Corps League
Anne Arundel County
Detachment 1049

SEMPER FI MARINES!

Detachment Newsletter - Tuesday, August 20, 2002

   Commandant Earl Parker

The summer vacation is quickly coming to a halt so please when you get behind the wheel of your car from now on use extra care and watch for the young ones.

I want to thank every who has been attending the meetings. the turnout has been great and hope the enthusiasm will continue. I want to get a few qualified guest speakers to come to our meetings and speak on subjects that will benefit all of us. If you have any suggestions please let me know and together we will get them to attend.

The elected and appointed officers and committee members are doing their jobs but a little help from each of you would go a long way to improve the quality of our detachment. W must pull together if we want to succeed.

I just recently found out that no USMC personnel records whatsoever were involved in the fires of St. Louis during the 1970's. When someone applies for membership in our detachment be wary when he says his records were destroyed in that fire and can produce no record of service.

There seems to be some confusion as to our monthly meeting date. MEETINGS WILL BE THE 4TH MONDAY OF THE MONTH @ 1900 AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE UNLESS IT IS A HOLIDAY WEEKEND. THEREFORE ATTEMPTS WILL BE MADE TO HAVE IT SCHEDULED ON THE 3RD MONDAY IF AT ALL POSSIBLE AND EVERYONE WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE CHANGE IN ADVANCE.
 

Marines, we need hard cash to operate our detachment properly. Our Marines get sick and sometimes need a little financial help and when becoming bedridden, etc., a nice fruit basket often raises the spirits. Spouses and children also fall under this category.

I have for the past month started selling raffle tickets for a $300.00 jackpot. Ten tickets to a Pack. The tickets are $1.00 ea. I am asking that you take at least one (1) pack @ $10.00 and if you only want 1 or more individual tickets, sell the remaining tickets to a co-worker, relative or neighbor. We must make this a success. Please see me at the meeting or call me at 410-255-9129. The winning ticket will be drawn the night of the Marine Corps Ball after the festivities are completed. No tickets will be sold at or during the Ball. The Ball is not a fund raiser event. I am asking your individual help on this project. If we do this right I won't be asking for anymore of your money for sometime to come.
 

Marines, our new membership drive has been progressing very slowly. I know there are hundreds of qualified Marines out there in this area that do not know about us and what we do and where we are located. I am asking you for your help in locating these Marines and attempting to get them to join our ranks. We must be a great organization or we would not have veterans from other branches of the service wanting to know how to join up. If these vets know about us and what we do there is no reason why our Marines don't know. When you talk to a prospective Marine applicant write our website (http://www.mclaacdet1049.org) on the application and encourage him to go to that site. It is a great selling tool. Mike Hadley has put a lot of time, effort and money into it so lets get out there and put our best foot forward. If you do not have black applications, come to a meeting or stop by the VFW Post 160 on Dorsey Rd. and pick up some or call me at 410-672-3305 and I will send you some in the post. Please help me to continue making this a great post.

We would like to welcome our newest member into the detachment Marine Warner Sumpter. Warner was first a Marine, 2nd a Maryland State Trooper retiring as a Major and is now a Brigadier General, Army National Guard, 29th Div. He is also a descendent of the Gen. Sumter of the Civil War fame. Welcome aboard, Warner.
 

The Marine Corps Ball is fast approaching. I am telling you now if you have never attended a celebration at the Ball you are missing a great time. I sincerely believe if you have never attended a Birthday Ball you have not completed your obligation to this beloved Corps. The pageantry and program is something to witness. Food and dancing is at its best. The eldest and youngest Marine present will be honored in a joyous ceremony. The Marine Honor Guard from the Annapolis Barracks will post the colors and take part in the ceremonies. These Marines are sharp.

The dress will be semi-formal, minimum sport coat and tie. If you are retired or active duty, full military dress uniform can be worn. Marine Corps League red hat covers can be worn with any League uniform or civilian attire.

Tickets are $30.00 per person and includes dinner and rail drinks. Tickets and seating are limited. Times will be 1800 to 2400, Saturday, November 9, 2002. When we have reached capacity that will be it.

Our own Marine, Dave Boschert will be the guest speaker.

You can reach me at 410-947-5659.
 

I want to thank everyone who responded to the call of attending the memorial service at the Holy Trinity Church in Glen Burnie last month for a Brother Marine who belonged to the Baltimore Det. Baltimore Marines were attending the National Convention and we took up the call for them. I would hope that this is what we are about. We have been very fortunate in our Detachment. I have not heard of nay of our members being ill or passing on recently. I hope I never get any calls but if someone is ill or hospitalized themselves or any family members please give me a call ASAP. 410-987-0386 and leave a message if I am not at home.
 

It is great to know that the Detachment has finally established a Marine Corps League Ladies Auxiliary. Dawn Parker has been elected as the President and the officers will be installed at the conclusion of our meeting this Monday, 8/26/02. Everyone is welcome to attend the installation ceremonies. Bring your spouses and family. I have been told there will be refreshments at the conclusion of the ceremony. Also, the Auxiliary are always looking for more members to get involved so if your wives or daughters are interested please feel free to jump in. They will have their own space in this newsletter in the future. It sounds as though they have a lot of activities planned for the future and we wish them a great deal of success.

Some of us are again planning a trip to 8th and I St. and possibly onto Ship Stores at Quantico. Last month 5 of us ventured to 8th and I. Dress blue trousers, summer weight, hemmed and fitted with blood stripes sewed on at a total cost of $45.00 each including everything. Anyone interested in this trip in September be at the coming meeting. Hopefully we can agree on a date that is beneficial to all that want to go.

Some of you Marines have inquired about drinks not available at the Post. They have now added Beck Dark Lager for you hardy drinkers. The VFW Post has been very accommodating to us since we moved into their home. It would be nice to attend their Friday night dinners and other activities and fund raisers they present when you possibly can.

If you Marines have news items you want to go into this letter, please let me know a week before the meeting.

SEE YOU AT THE MEETING THIS MONDAY 1900, 8/26/02.