NEWSLETTER Granite State Detachment #542 December 2020 Quarterly Issue: 001

Our operating expenses for the last four years were about COMMANDANT’S CORNER 8% ($2,550). Therefore, 92% of our funds were available to serve our mission. We made donations to the following recipients: Building Dreams for Marines; NH Run for the Fallen; NH Food Bank; Young Marines; Manchester VA Medical Center Bingo and Food Pantry; Veterans Park USMC Flag Pole; Hershel Williams Gold Star Family Monument in NH Veterans State Cemetery; Cathedral of the Pines; Manchester Expeditionary Brigade (MEB); GSD Scholarship Fund; 3 Marine Veterans in Need; Veterans Count; NH State Veterans Home; Marine Heritage Foundation; Winnacunnet ROTC; Home Base MGH; and the Jarheads Fallen 7 Fund.

We have a good fund balance on hand to get us through our inability to fundraise during the Covid-19 pandemic. Hopefully, a vaccine is coming soon, and things will move toward normalcy for our nation and the world. Then, we can get back to fundraising.

In addition to our fundraising support for Marine and FMF Corpsmen and Chaplain veterans, we promoted the traditions of the USMC and built our fraternity and esprit de corps. We had our Spring Social events; we hosted a Derwood J. Haskell marvelous Quad State convention; we managed Boy Fellow Granite State Detachment Marines and Members, Scouts Courts of Honor and program; and I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the privilege we have monthly breakfasts at the Airport Diner. We need of serving as your Commandant for the last four years. to continue to strengthen our fraternity and the common The mission of the Marine Corps League is to promote bond we all have in serving our mission. and preserve the traditions of the Marine Corps; strengthen the fraternity of Marines and their All of this could not have been accomplished without the families; serve Marines, FMF Corpsmen and FMF contributions and efforts by each one of you. I want to Chaplain veterans; and foster Americanism and patriotic personally thank you, my officers and my appointed staff. volunteerism. We have accomplished that mission. And it I could not have served as Commandant without your is because of you and your honor, courage and excellent support. As I pass the torch to our next commitment. Commandant, the state of the Detachment is good, and I want it to grow even more. We have an excellent slate of From 2017-2020, we raised over $30,000 new officers coming on board in January 2021, and I am to support our mission: confident the Granite State Detachment will continue to prosper and serve the Marine Corps League mission. Bass Market Pro/ , Gun Basket Weare Raffle Coin Shows Events Rally Sales Sales Total Derwood J. Haskell, Commandant Granite State Marine Det. 542 $13,976 $ 13,468 $ 3,164 $ 315 $ 938 $ 31,861 Marine Corps League

Granite State Marine Corps League #542 OOHRAH Newsletter December 2020

GRANITE STATE GRANITE STATE DETACHMENT #542 Officers Meeting DETACHMENT #542 1800 – 1830 OFFICERS 2020 followed by the OFFICERS ELECT 2021 Membership Meeting Commandant Commandant 1830 – 2000 Derwood Haskell BJ Byers on the Sr. Vice Commandant 2nd Tuesday of the month Sr. Vice Commandant Chris Alberding at the John Jenkins Jr. Vice Commandant Elks Lodge #146 Jr. Vice Commandant John Jenkins 290 Granite Street Chris Peirce Judge Advocate Manchester, NH Judge Advocate

Kevin Brown Mailing Address Chris Alberding Adjutant P.O. Box 3857 Adjutant BJ Byers Manchester, NH 03105 Vacant - TBD Website: Paymaster Paymaster Judith Jones www.granitestatemarines.com Vacant - TBD Chaplain Chaplain Joe Duquette Marine Corps Breakfast 08:00 Last Saturday of the Month Joe Duquette Quartermaster Airport Diner, Brown Avenue Quartermaster John Petralito Manchester, NH John Petralito Sargeant at Arms Sargeant at Arms Ron Jones Ron Jones Web Sargeant Web Sargeant Chris Alberding Chris Alberding

MARINE CORPS HISTORY WELCOME NEW Did you know …? MEMBERS 2020 The first two battalions of Members

Marines were formed at the Chris Peirce in , The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor . was officially adopted in 1868 Paul Sorenson by Brigadier General to adorn caps. The Gerard Tanguay On March 3, 1776, the first general design was most Jack Balcom - Transfer amphibious landing of the likely inspired by the Royal Marines took place during the Marines’ Globe and Laurel. Dan Feber - Transfer Battle of Nassau. Under the Associate Members command of Captain , 220 Marines The was Joey Duquette successfully landed and adopted in 1825 and reflects secured stockpiles of the the Marine Corps’ success Teresa Hamlin enemy’s guns and mortar. during the First Barbary Marge Romano War.

Granite State Marine Corps League #542 OOHRAH Newsletter December 2020

made it home from battles abroad. They are the men and CHAPLAIN’S MESSAGE women captured by enemy forces, missing and killed in action...our POW/MIA/KIA Marines. Men and women

who are not sitting at our tables enjoying a slice of cake with us this , 2020. Their chair is empty, but we must never forget them, for they are also our heroes and we celebrate this 245th Birthday with each and every one of them and we thank them for their unselfish acts of courage. “All gave some, some gave all.” The silent ones wearing their red covers with their Eagle, Globe and Anchor addressing who they are and what they stand for. They are Marines and Associates celebrating many years of helping their brothers and sisters standing for Semper Fidelis. Semper Fi...Always Faithful to the Corps and to the Marine Corps League worldwide. The League members are always out there, front and center, bringing awareness of their fundraising efforts and sharing their collections among those Marines and military organizations in need. The list of beneficiaries is Chaplain Joe Duquette endless because our cause is never ending. When my Marine brothers in arms were falling around me, I always wondered, and it still haunts me today, why I was Each year, Marine Corps League Detachments spared. I believe that I had a guardian angel watching throughout the country celebrate the Marine Corps over me. Birthday and this one is no different. The camaraderie of brotherhood and sisterhood all joined together wishing You need to have faith in God, especially, when in a each other a “Happy Birthday” as if it is their own. Well, combat environment. Faith will keep you going from one to a Marine and Marine Corps League members, it is! day to the next. Faith gives you a reason to do your best every day. People are counting on you. We never know what is going to happen. The same is true today. In these unsettled times, with Covid-19 and the violence in our great country, it is still very important to have faith and pray that everything will work out all right. We need our guardian angels now as before.

245th BIRTHDAY UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS NOVEMBER 10. 2020 By John Petralito What is another year passed, you wonder? Well, to thousands of Marines, Jarheads, Leathernecks and th Marine Corps League Members, it means survival, honor, Happy 245 Birthday, Marines!! respect, dignity, commitment, courage and love for the Thank you for your service. United States Marine Corps. Each U.S.M.C. Birthday represents another year where God Bless our United States of America, Marines have passed into the heavens above and the The United States Marine Corps new recruits are added to the list of the greatest And the Marine Corps League! military fighting force in the world. 1775 SEMPER FIDELIS 2020 However, there is another group of Marines that never

Granite State Marine Corps League #542 OOHRAH Newsletter December 2020

DEPARTMENT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE FLAG RAISING AT THE STATE HOUSE, CONCORD, NH IN CELEBRTION OF THE MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY

A VETERANS DAY SALUTE

At 8:00 am on Wednesday, November 10, 2020, the Department of New Hampshire Marine Corps League celebrated the U.S. Marine Corps’ 245th birthday with the raising of the Marine Corps’ colors over the State House in Concord, New Hampshire. The ceremony also included the reading of the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ birthday message.

By Marge Romano On November 11, 2020, as our family arrived for a visit to our loved one at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, we were awe struck by the beautiful sea of small American flags waving across the green lawn of the cemetery. Every year for Veterans Day, a flag is placed on each veteran’s grave by the cemetery staff to honor those men Along with members of other NH detachments, members and women who served our country to ensure that they from the Granite State Detachment #542 attended the will not be forgotten on this important day! early morning ceremony.

Granite State Marine Corps League #542 OOHRAH Newsletter December 2020

fiber of our being to do every motion with perfection. “A THING OF IMPORTANCE” When the command is given to ‘Fire’, every Marine is seeking to make it one homogeneous sound each time the command is given.

We then go to the salute position of ‘Present Arms’ and By John Jenkins hold that salute for the playing of Taps and the folding of It was a beautiful day on September 12, 2020 for a drive the flag for presentation to the wife. to Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom and it was only a few miles from the Canadian border. And so, Nancy Gero, Jim Ambrose and I forged ahead, eating in shifts during the drive so that when we arrived, we could focus on the task at hand instead of the growls from within. We were not sure where the location was, but, assumed wrongly, that it would be at a cemetery. Instead, it was at the home of the departed Marine, Gunnery Sergeant Laurent Veilleux, whom we had come to honor, along with his immediate family, his close friends, and members of the Marine Corps League. Most all of the rifleman in the detail were from New Hampshire, with one hailing from Vermont. The call for volunteers had gone out a few weeks prior and we felt that this was something we needed to do. The date fell on a Saturday which meant that we could avail ourselves without needing to use up vacation time, which we have It was a beautiful gathering and I was later told by the done in the past. Vermont Commandant, Herb Drew, that Mrs. Veilleux was just amazed at the wonderful ceremony provided by the Upon arrival, we quickly realized that this was going to be Marine Corps League to honor her husband. a well-attended event. Marines dressed in their local uniform of black shirts and trousers with the MCL red cover greeted us as we made our way into the fold. Many friends and family had already gathered in the beautiful front yard area that had a flagpole flying the Stars and Stripes, as well as, the Marine Corps flag. The breeze of the day kept both symbols stretched out and proudly waving. A Marine Sergeant wearing his ‘Dress Blues’ and a uniformed Navy Chief Petty Officer were on hand to be We travel these roads, we wear our uniforms, and we the flag bearers for the ceremony. The Commandant of practice with the desire to be the best to show our respect Vermont started the proceedings and when the flag was to our fallen brothers because we believe that every snapped open, it was up to us to perform on command. Marine should be honored for their service to our country. And then it begins. Now, we have done many of these And because we feel that the sacrifices they made for this firing details, however, there is always that feeling of nation, for the family, as well as for the Marine himself nervousness that comes over you. makes them worthy of this effort. We have a need to be perfect at what we do. This is how And so, we believe that these honors are… we were trained back in the day. And so, we wait to be called to attention from ceremonial parade rest. The “A THING OF IMPORTANCE!” commands are shouted out and we respond with every

Granite State Marine Corps League #542 OOHRAH Newsletter December 2020

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Marine - Frank Diekmann

In the early 1950’s (1952), I entered Purcell High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. At that time, there was a lot of publicity about the MARINES and Korea. In 1955, the Battle Cry came out about the Marines. I was then convinced that I wanted to be part of the best and be a Marine. In late 1955 or early 1956, I joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves, 4th Communication Company in Cincinnati. In April or May, I was called to the companies HQ and told to report to the Major. The Major told me that they found out I was only sixteen when I signed up and not eighteen as I told them. I was discharged and told to come back with my parents when I was seventeen. In August 1955, I turned seventeen and a few days later showed up at the reserves with my parents to sign up. It took a lot of talking to my mother to get her to agree to allow me to sign up. I had even threatened to run away and sign up someplace else. I spent one year in the reserves. During this time, the Marines were just starting to convert to computerized equipment and because I knew something about computers, I was promoted to PFC. At the end of August – early September 1959, I left for Parris Island. Like everyone who went through Marine basic training it was an experience you never forget. Marines I talk to today, tell me how they always felt when they stood on the yellow footprints for the first time. When I tell them that I don’t remember the footprints because I was in before the yellow footprints, they find it hard to believe. There were five of us from my graduating class who signed up for active duty. We all had the intention of signing up for four years, but the First Sergeant convinced us to sign up as category H reservists, which was six months active duty and eight years reserves. He told us if we still wanted to go on active duty, we could sign over at the end of six months. At the end of six months, we found out that most Marines were being sent to a number of the small islands in the Pacific, where they spent the entire time. And, when talking to these Marines, they told us it was terrible duty. Only one in our group signed up for active duty and the rest of us decided to serve our time in the reserves. This member of our group later became a Catholic priest. We later learned that the Marines, as well as all services at the time, were downsizing and trying to build up their reserves. Of course, the First Sergeant didn’t tell us that because he had a goal of needed personnel for the reserves. In 1962, the 4th Marines were alerted for the planned invasion of Cuba, but the reservist who had children were not activated. By the fall of 1962, we had two sons, so I was not activated. I was discharged in 1964 and after that I had little or no contact with Marine functions. In 2000, while walking through the mill yard during Riverfest, I saw a Marine Corps League display manned by Henry Smith, Morris Labbe and Roger Davies. They explained the functions of the league to me and the camaraderie of fellow Marines belonging to the organization. They did a great job explaining the Marine Corps League to me. Fortunately, I joined and over the years I was able to meet many great individuals. Since joining the league, I have held every Granite State Detachment and Department of New Hampshire position, except for Chaplain. However, I did fill in on the Chaplain position a number of times. I have also served on a number of National Committee positions over the years. As Commandant, I got the detachment to support Habitat for Humanity by working on various homes. Also, one of the first tasks I got involved in as a MCL volunteer, along with other detachment members, was helping to establish Liberty House in Manchester, New Hampshire. The Granite State Detachment did most of the work establishing a kitchen for Liberty House, as well as getting the grounds for the property that Liberty House had on West Baker Street squared away. As Commandant of the Detachment, I was extremely fortunate to have Henry Smith and Morris Labbe to assist me. Morris, as Senior Vice Commandant, was outstanding in aiding me on a number of projects over the years along with a number of Detachment members. When I assumed the responsibility as Commandant of the GSD, we only had about $200 in our treasury and about twenty members of which only four or five were showing up for meetings. In fact, sometimes I was

Granite State Marine Corps League #542 OOHRAH Newsletter December 2020

unable to hold a meeting because I didn’t have a quorum. Fortunately, these were active members, like Morris Labbe, Henry Smith, Roger Davies and Ralph Moore and they supported me. Henry Smith had access to a 15” Eagle, Globe and Anchor mold. Henry and Morris located a foundry in Franklin, New Hampshire that agreed to pour twenty-five bronze and ten aluminum emblems. About this time, I got involved and we located a company near the Massachusetts border to polish them and another vendor in Derry to seal them. This was our first major fundraiser for the detachment and we subsequently ordered more emblems. This project allowed us to increase the detachment treasury to about $6,000. Unfortunately, Henry died, but other members took on additional duties. We all then participated in various events and managed to increase the membership to about fifty members. In the early 2000’s, I met Ed Johnson. Ed was Commandant of the Seacoast Detachment which was part of the Department of Maine. Ed stated that he got little or no support from his Department. Together we got National to agree to the transfer of the Department of Maine to the Department of New Hampshire since they were meeting in New Hampshire. Through Ed, I got to know about the Honor Flights organization. This organization sponsored WWII veterans on trips to Washington DC to see the WW II monument. The GSD sponsored several veterans to make the trip and I was able to accompany veterans to Washington DC on two of these flights. I represented the Detachment in the Building Dreams for Marines organization. This organization assists Marines that need help of various kinds around their homes. As a member of this group, I helped with many projects to help make the Marines’ home more usable; such as erection of bed hoists, building decks and ramps. I later served on the Board of Directors for several years. As Commandant, I continued participation of the Detachment in the USMC flag raising in Concord, NH on the Marine Corps Birthday. The GSD had been participating in this event for several years. The event was started by Joe Shea who was with the Detachment in Concord. In 2012, Tony Romano from the Lakes Region Detachment moved to Manchester and we were very fortunate to have him transfer his membership to GSD. Tony always volunteered for any project that the Detachment was involved in. He was particularly good at fundraising events and membership programs. Unfortunately, Tony died in 2019 and is stilled missed. The Detachment was very fortunate to have Woody Haskell take over as the Commandant after I left in 2008. He has continued to support the various programs that the Detachment was involved with and has started some of his own programs by continuing to obtain new members, increasing the treasury and improving the detachment.

THIS IS YOUR NEWSLETTER!

GSD members, do you have an idea for an article that you would like to see published in the next newsletter? Or, better yet, how about you writing an article of interest to share with other members of the detachment? Please email your articles, photos and your ideas for inclusion in the next publication of the newsletter to: [email protected] Thank you, Marge Romano, Editor-in-Chief

Granite State Marine Corps League #542 OOHRAH Newsletter December 2020

Attention Veterans, Veterans’ Families, Caregivers and Survivors.

Are you interested in receiving VA News via email on a weekly basis?

The VA News weekly newsletter is a great tool to help keep you up to date on what program offerings are available through the Veterans Administration.

Below is a partial list of some of the past informational articles that have appeared in the weekly VA resource newsletter via email:  New Electronic Health Record System  New App for VA Rx Refills  Help for Veteran Owned Businesses  Employers Hiring Veterans in Your State  Free National Park Passes  Free Tutoring for Veterans  Find Apprenticeship Opportunities Near You  Free Quarantine Craft Kits from Help Heal Veterans  Most Underused Veterans State Benefits  Monthly Listing of VA Events

To receive this informative weekly resource newsletter, sign up by entering your email address at: www.VA.gov/VetResources.

Wishing all Marines and their families throughout the world A wonderful holiday season And A Healthy and Happy New Year in 2021 ‘SEMPER FI’