Marine Corps League 1426 East Fort Avenue (#17 Fire House) Baltimore, Maryland 21230-5247 Baltimore Detachment #565 Phone: 410-547-7699 http://www.mclbaltimore.org email: [email protected] Earl Ruff, Jr.* Commandant November 2016 * Vol . 20, No. 11 * Stuart Blair, Editor In memory of Marine Michael Smerticha * 31 October 2016 When the Continental Congress stood up two battalions of Marines in 1775, a culture of discipline, vigilance, professionalism, and military excellence was born that has characterized our Corps for nearly two and a half centuries. As Marines, we have a profound respect for our traditions and heritage, and for taking care of each other. We know we're strongest when we're together as a team. Wherever you are celebrating our Corps' birthday this year, look around at the Marines beside you and remember the bonds forged in training, in garrison, and in combat. Take this time to reconnect. We are Marines for life. It's our responsibility, our duty, to maintain and build upon the legacy of those CMC 241st Birthday Message who have gone before us. What we do today, guided by what we've learned from past Each year on or around 10 November, Marines generations, will determine the future of our Corps. gather in groups large and small to celebrate our So as we celebrate this 241st anniversary of our history, honor the memory of those who have gone Corps, we also look ahead and prepare for our next before us, and rekindle the bond that unites all success. Take pride in carrying our legacy forward. generations of Marines. This year, we mark the 241st Happy Birthday, Marines! anniversary of our Corps - 241 years of uncommon valor, innovation, and combat excellence. Semper Fidelis, Marines, we are part of something bigger than any of us could imagine. Whether you fought in the battles of World War I, in the Pacific during World War II, in Korea Robert B. Neller or Vietnam, in Desert Shield or Desert Storm, or in the General, U.S. Marine Corps streets of Iraq and Afghanistan - or you are just starting Commandant of the Marine Corps out on your Marine Corps journey - we are all part of an elite family of warriors. For the rest of your life, the first term people use to describe you will be "Marine." Commandant’s Message Sr. Vice Commandant’s Message Greetings Marines, Greetings, Condolences to our Detachment Sgt at Arms Harry Our Toys for Tots Program is currently in full swing Hierstetter for the loss of his son. Our prayers are with and we hope that we can collect more toys this you during your period of grief. year than we did last year. Unfortunately, I broke We are still in need of attendees for the Marine Corps my ankle while picking up more Toys for Tots Ball. Talk to relatives and friends to interest them in cartons from the Marine Corps Reserve. However, attending our ball. It is a very enjoyable afternoon for with the help of Junior Vice Commandant Raymond everyone and there is a possibility this could be our Vaughn, we placed boxes in four new places and a last Ball. Let’s all try to make it a good one. few more are being considered. We are in the process of obtaining a date at the Shoppers in my On Oct 1st I attended the MCL Dept of Maryland area so that we can set-up a table where we can Quarterly meeting in Oakland MD., with Past recruit and hopefully collect toys or donations at the Commandant Milt Hazzard and Chief of Staff Jack same time. If anyone is interested in assisting, Colleran. One of the main subjects was the new please feel free to call me at 410-358-5727. schedule for paying annual dues. As of the year 2017 Anyone who has a Fire Station near their home everyone will be required to pay their annual dues by please let me know so that we can contact the Aug. 31st of each year. Please be prepared to handle engine company to see if we can place a box. this task accordingly. There is a box in Detachment so you can bring in your toys or if you are not going to attend the I also was able to attend the “Discover the Power of meeting and have toys, please call me and I will Age” Senior Expo, sponsored by Baltimore County pick them up. If you want to make a donation, Department of Aging at the Maryland State Fair please make your check payable to MCL, Grounds. In attendance over the two days were Stuart Detachment 565 and note Toys for Tots Donation & Bernadine Blair, Ray Vaughn, and Jack Colleran. in the memo section. We are going to have great Stuart registered for an exhibitor booth to promote the Toys for Tots year! MCL and the Detachment. Members of the Cpl Pete Arnold Detachment were also present. Members were The VA Medical Center is still looking for volunteers able to talk with many seniors visiting the expo and at the Greene Street and Loch Raven facilities. some who were found to be Life Members of the However, a major construction project on the detachment, hopefully we see some at future meetings. parking lot renovation at Greene Street will begin in In closing I want to thank Milt Hazzard, Bill Shea and November. The project will be done in three stages Jack Colleran for helping in the cleaning and flag and volunteers and persons who work the dayshift replacing at Latrobe Memorial Park on Sat. 29 Oct, in will be moved to the Metro Garage at 610 West preparation for the Veterans Day Memorial Service. Saratoga Street which is the former site of the Reminder, Friday 11 Nov. we will muster at 0830hr at Social Security Administration. Phase 1 will begin the Detachment Home, 0900hr Ceremony at Latrobe in mid-November and it will involve closing P3 of Memorial Park, Fort Ave. I am asking all who able the parking garage. Phase 2 will begin in January please attend. Let’s have a good showing to honor which means that P2 will be closed and the final those veterans who have gone before us. phase will begin in February which will close P1. So if you have appointments at the VA facility, S/F please remember about the construction project. Earl Ruff, Jr. Commandant Respectfully submitted, Marian C. James, SVC Toys for Tots Chairperson - 2 - Jr. Vice Commandant Message Greeting Marines, Chaplain’s Report In it’s that time of year again, a chill in the air, fall Please remember in your thoughts and prayers Marine colors paint the trees, lawns deep in leaves and Bill Reis who was called by the Supreme Commandant seemingly endless family gatherings everywhere. Step on 1/18/2016 outside your door and inhale a deep breath of that We all have memories, good and bad. .. cool, clean morning air. The season has finally changed. We'll be gearing up to celebrate Veteran's The Way We Were Day, Thanksgiving and our pot luck Christmas dinner, surrounded by family and friends. For those who wore Memories the EGA, our last big "Oorah" of the year comes with Like the corners of my mind the Marine Corps Birthday Ball. I hope you all made Misty watercolor memories the RSVP deadline of November 5th and will be able Of the way we were to share the great tradition of a fine meal and good Scattered pictures company with us. We get all dolled up and share cake Of the smiles we left behind and good company with fellow Marines and Smiles we gave to one another For the way we were Corpsmen, kids and cousins and very special friends Can it be that it was all so simple then? and coworkers. Keep an eye on newspapers, internet Or has time rewritten every line? and TV for all the groups and companies that offer If we had the chance to do it all again special promotions for veterans, like lunch, brunch or Tell me, would we, would we, dinner. Don't forget to plan on remembering less Could we, could we? fortunate children and drop off a new, unwrapped toy Memories or two, for kids (of all ages), at the Detachment May be beautiful and yet meeting hall to support Toys For Tots. Store the image What's too painful to remember of how your kids would feel to have a Christmas with We simply choose to forget nothing to unwrap and determine that you will do what Can it be that it was all so simple then? Or has time rewritten every line? you can to prevent that happening to children less If we had the chance to do it all again fortunate than our own. We always want that to be Tell me, would we, would we, successful and then some. In short, it's a time to Could we, could we? reflect on how fortunate we are and consider what we can do to ease the pain and problems of so many of Reading the words, does it make you remember our neighbors. Marines traditionally have soft hearts someone or something that you have forgotten? and helping hands. I think every unit, in every combat zone and every war, adopted some kid, some Semper Fi Prayer puppy, some cause and helped when they could. Please remember in your thoughts and prayers Marine We're still a bunch of pushovers and old softies, at Michael Smerticha who was called by the Supreme heart, even decades later.