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ONCE A MARINE, ALWAYS A MARINE CALENDAR 32 FEATURE ARTICLES 12 2019 NATIONAL CONVENTION 16 2020 NATIONAL CONVENTION INFORMATION 13 NEWS FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE 25 MODERN DAY MARINE EXPO 2019 LARRY WALTER / BILL FORTUNE ROBERT BRUCE 14 “THE 22”—SUICIDE PREVENTION AND 32 THE GREATEST GENERATION— NORMANDY’S AWARENESS COMMITTEE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY WITH MILITARY BARBARA DEANGELO HISTORICAL TOURS KYLE SHEA 14 NATIONAL HOMELESS VETERANS COMMITTEE 39 MILITARY HISTORICAL TOURS RICARDO SHEPPARD FORMS & RAFFLES 10 MID-WINTER CONFERENCE REGISTRATION 59 MILITARY HISTORICAL TOURS RAFFLE FORM FORM 61 MARINE CORPS LEAGUE APPLICATION 17 NATIONAL CONVENTION REGISTRATION FOR MEMBERSHIP FORM 4 S|F WINTER 2020 ONCE A MARINE, ALWAYS A MARINE Vol. 76 No. 1 • WINTER 2020 ON THE COVER National Sergeant-At-Arms Lisa Sol- arczyk and Assistant Division Vice Com- mandant Rick Thomason hold the U.S. Flag flown during D-Day at the Omaha Beach landing. Owner, Steve Dilley (OK), Veteran Navy Corpsman, shared the flag and associated memorabilia with MCL members at the 2019 National Convention in Billings, Montana. 2019 National Photo by Alison Noger Convention Highlights A Tour Through France Military Historical Tours Celebrates D-Day’s 75th Anniversary 6 The MCL at 2019 Modern Day Marine COLUMNS 6 NATIONAL COMMANDANT’S LETTER 23 NATIONAL JR. VICE COMMANDANT DENNIS TOBIN WARREN C. GRIFFIN 8 CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER‘S LETTER 24 NATIONAL JUDGE ADVOCATE BOB BORKA T.J. MORGAN 8 EVENTS IN MARINE HISTORY 26 DIVISION REPORTS ANNETTE AMERMAN 36 JUNIOR PAST NATIONAL COMMANDANT 10 ATTENTION ON DECK WENDELL W. WEBB 18 CHIEF DEVIL DOG 38 NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE REPORT THOMAS W. HAZLETT PHILIP G. SHORT 20 MCL AUXILIARY LETTER 40 ROLL CALL EVELYN JOPPA 50 BOOK REVIEWS 22 MCL FOUNDATION, PRESIDENT’S LETTER BOB BORKA GERARD DEVLIN 52 TAPS 22 YOUNG MARINES 54 THE SEMPER FI STORE BILL DAVIS 58 REUNIONS 23 NATIONAL SR. VICE COMMANDANT JOHNNY B. BAKER 58 MARINE CORPS LEAGUE EVENT CALENDAR Founded in 1923 by Lieutenant General John CORRECTION & CLARIFICATION A. Lejeune, the Marine Corps In “A Final Tribute to a Gallant Marine—The Memorial Ceremony League is the of USMC Pvt Carl Strong,” page 11 of Vol. 75, No. 4, we regretfully only federally omitted the author’s website. Please see findingcarl.com to view the chartered Marine Corps- memorial service video. related veterans organization On page 14, Vol. 75, No. 4, the “Marine Corps Hymn” should read: in the United States. “Marines’ Hymn.” S|F THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE 5 ONCE A MARINE, ALWAYS A MARINE NATIONAL COMMANDANT’S LETTER DENNIS TOBIN It is time to be accountable and THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE The Marine Corps League Inc. is a Congressionally uphold our oath chartered, non-profit organization. National Commandant: Dennis Tobin MARINES: In follow-up from items at the Chief Operating Officer: Bob Borka National Convention, there are a few things I need to discuss that require the immediate attention CALL (703) 207-9588 of all detachment and department officers. First, for any issues related to Marine Corps I want to thank everyone who has volunteered to League membership, Semper Fi serve on various committees and those members subscriptions or changes of address. who have sent me numerous suggestions and rec- To change your address, please contact ommendations on a variety of issues. I appreciate your detachment Paymaster. Additionally, your interest and involvement in the League. Here send an email to [email protected]. are four particularly important items: To pay your dues, please contact Responsibility—Every member has the responsi- your detachment Paymaster. bility to make sure their officers are adhering to not only their own bylaws but also to the National Bylaws and Administrative Proce- Executive Editor General Manager Bob Borka Deborah L. Shea dures. Do not just sit at a meeting and shake your heads yes or no just to go with the flow. If you cannot get the situation corrected at the detachment or depart- Publisher Editors Megan M. Vukodinovich Lisa Weder / Megan M. Vukodinovich ment level, then run it up the chain of command until you get the help you need. Reporting—Report of Officer Installations Art Director Production Coordinator (ROI) are to be filled out, signed and sent Adam Bucci Rachel Hoefing Roundtable through departments to National Headquarters Administration every year. Those detachments or departments Sara Lund Discussion that do not file an ROI are not operating within Advertising Representatives Megan M. Vukodinovich, Jayne Wynes the Bylaws/Administrative Procedures. This can [email protected] • Ph: (702) 565-0746 MARINES: At the upcom- result in consequences such as charter suspen- Semper Fi is published quarterly for the ing Mid-Winter Conference, sion. This is not a hard issue to correct. Depart- I will be setting aside some Marine Corps League by: ment Commandants, you should know when Chipotle Publishing, LLC time (TBA) for a roundtable all your detachments are holding elections and Ph: (702) 565-0746 • www.chipotlepublishing.com discussion with all Women Marines present that week- installations and have a responsibility to ensure Semper Fi, The Magazine of the Marine Corps League™ the report is sent in. end. I will send out info on the (ISSN 1933-2327), copyright ©2020 by the Marine Corps League, is time and location with the Tax Compliance—Another important issue is published quarterly (4 times per year) in January, April, July and October agenda. All Women Marines non-profit status. All detachments and depart- by Chipotle Publishing, LLC for the Marine Corps League. Marine Corps are welcome and requested ments must be a 501(c)(4), listed under the IRS League Business Office: MCL National Headquarters, 3619 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 115, Stafford, VA 22554. Telephone: (703) 207-9588. to please attend. Thank You. Parent Group 0955 with a deductibility of 1. Website: www.mclnational.org. Email: [email protected] If you are not listed this way, you are not con- Subscriptions: Members’ national dues include a free subscription sidered operating within the Marine Corps League.