Volume 20 Issue 2 Elected Officers for 2015 Commandant: Frank Antoline Phone: 724-523-4208 February 2015 Editor: Joyce Arrigoni E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 724-861-8558 Sr. Vice: Gary Burkett Phone: 724-493-5958 Email: [email protected] Jr. Vice: Jim Lohr Phone: 724-925-2735; 724-858-8111 Email: [email protected] Judge Advocate: John Rosatti Phone: 724-837-6547 Email: [email protected] Junior Past Commandant: Rich Nickle Detachment Birthday Corner February Birthdays Happy Birthday to Marines James Lohr, Doug Hurst, Richard Long, Victor “Sam” Redinger. If you would like to have this newsletter wish you a Happy Birthday, please contact the editor with your birthdate. Phone: 724-8365-3893 Appointed Officers for 2015 Adjutant: Joyce Arrigoni (see above) Chaplain: Joseph Nist Editor: Joyce Arrigoni (see above) Paymaster: James Smith Quartermaster: Chris Demorest Sgt at Arms: Cephus Johnson Trustees: Meeting: 4th Tuesday of the month. Next Meeting: 24 February 2015 Place: VFW Post #211, Youngwood, PA Time: 1900 (7:00 PM) hours The “count on deck” is: 69 If you know any active, retired, or former Marines who are not members of the Marine Corps League, please invite them to come as guests to our next meeting. All Marines are always welcome at our meetings. ATTENTION Detachment members will find part 2 of your detachment address roster inside this newsletter. Newsletter by Email If you would like to receive your copy of the newsletter by email, please send an email to the editor. MCL Life Membership The Greensburg Detachment has established a "payment plan" for Life Membership. Members can now make monthly payments in amounts of their choice toward the total fee, which has been established, for their age group. Up to 35 yrs. 36 to 50 yrs. 51 to 60 yrs. 61 & over $500.00 $400.00 $300.00 $150.00 Contact your detachment Paymaster if you're interested in this plan. Please make sure you include your birth date if signing up for Life Membership. Websites of interest Detachment #834: www.greensburgmarinecorpsleague.org/ Detachment #834 FACEBOOK page: Search for: Greater Greensburg Marine Corps League Detachment 834 Westmoreland Toys for Tots: jeannette-pa.toysfortots.org Dept. of PA MCL: www.pamcleague.org/ MCL National HQ: www.mcleague.org/ January Meeting The following 8 members were on board: Antoline, Frank Hurst, Doug Arrigoni, Joyce Lohr, Jim Burkett, Gary Smith, Jim Haines, Bob Soles, Bill Meeting Highlights: NO official meeting was held last month as there were NOT enough members present. Is your MCL membership expiring? Past due memberships: James Murray – 5/14 Harmon, Susan – 1/15 McCarthy, Joseph – 12/14 Demorest, Christopher – 1/15 Make checks, for $30, payable to MCL Greater Greensburg. Please send your dues to the Paymaster: James Smith 636 Welty Street Greensburg, PA 15601 A Bit of Marine Corps History Part 5 of a series. From Condition Red: Marine Defense Battalions in Wolrld War II by Major Charles D. Melson Page 2 of 6 Next Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Announced By Office of Marine Corps Communication, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON -- The Commandant of the Marine Corps announced today the selection of Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Green as the next Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps. “It gives me great pleasure to name Sgt. Maj. Green as the 18th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps,” said Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the commandant of the Marine Corps. “His dynamic leadership is well known throughout the ranks of our Corps. His wide range of experience in both peacetime and combat, and his record of performance make him extraordinarily well-qualified to serve as our senior enlisted leader,” Dunford said. Green, currently the sergeant major of I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), will replace Sgt. Maj. Micheal P. Barrett, who has held the billet since June 2011. Barrett is credited with improving Marines’ training, education, compensation, quality of life, bachelor enlisted quarters, on-base housing, and family support programs. “Sgt. Maj. Barrett has poured his heart and soul into serving Marines, Sailors, and their families,” Dunford said. “He has truly made a positive impact on the combat readiness of our Corps.” The relief and appointment ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m., Feb. 20, at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. The post of Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps was established in 1957 as the senior enlisted advisor to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the first such post in any of the branches of the United States Armed Forces. The Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps is selected by the Commandant, and typically serves a four-year term, though his service is at the pleasure of the Commandant. Page 3 of 6 “My time in service was very educational; it was like a college education, reading, writing, and learning,” said Britton. “I came out a very well educated person even though I didn’t formally go to school.” Between 1942 and 1949 over 20,000 African-American Marines were trained. Of those, 13,000 served overseas areas including Vietnam, Japan and Guadalcanal. VA Hospital Wish List Montford Point Congressional Gold Medal Recipient Surviving Montford Point Marines attend a ceremony for Sgt. Hiram L. Knowles to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on Feb. 7, 2015. Knowles was one of over 400 Montford Point Marines to be awarded since 2012. 91-year-old Montford Point Marine veteran receives Congressional Gold Medal By Cpl. Elizabeth Thurston, Defense Media Activity NEW YORK -- Montford Point Marine Sgt. Hiram L. Knowles was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his honorable service during the Era of World War II on Feb. 7, 2015 at the Mary Woodard Lasker Biomedical Research Building, New York City. In 2012, Congress authorized the Congressional Gold Medal to be awarded to each of the 20,000 Montford Point Marines or to their families in recognition of the accomplishments and sacrifices made during a time of segregation. “It’s a great honor for anyone to give their service to our country and knowing what my dad did, was a great gift,” said Jemere Smith, Knowles’ daughter. Montford Point Marines were the first African-American Marines to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps. They got the name because of their segregated training site at Montford Point, North Carolina. Along with family and loved ones in the audience, was Ambassador Theodore Britton Jr., a former Marine who served beside Knowles as a Montford Point Marine. “We had a great time. He was a lot of fun, (but) he took care of business, and didn’t take any stuff from no one because he knew what he was doing,” said Britton, the honorary Consul General of the Republic of Albania. “I was pleased to serve with him.” The Montford Point Marine Training Facility was shut down in 1949 after President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 9981 which desegregated the U.S. Armed Forces. The following are wish lists for both the VA Hospital in Oakland and Aspinwall (Heinz). We will be collecting items at the meetings to be donated to both of these programs. *Body Wash Denture adhesive Mouth wash (no alcohol) Toothpaste Personal Care Body Lotion Denture cleaner Shave cream Tooth brush Body Splash *Deodorant (stick) Razors Tooth brush holder Men's & Women's Clothing Gloves Hats Socks *Jean's/Dockers Sports Bras (all Sweat Pants (waist 30 & up) sizes) (elastic waist band) Sweat *Shoes/Boots *T-Shirts -up to Shirts/Hoodies with velcro 5X Underwear Elastic waist Coats (Medium shorts & up) Refreshments Coffee (Decaf/Regular) & Creamers & Sugar Soda (2 liter bottles regular or diet, caffeine free) Chips, pretzels, snack crackers, granola bars (single serving size) Items That Are Needed Large print puzzle books Canteen books Games that 2 or more can play Art supplies Large print playing cards *Reading Glasses 2 hand held remotes for WII *Stamps Back Packs / Messenger bags Gift cards for outpatient programs Karaoke songs from the 60's, 70's & 80's Special Requests -Back Packs and Messenger bags. -Socks-cold feet at UD!!! No ankle length though. -Really, REALLY need T-shirts 3X and up to 5X. -Dialysis Clinic Save the Vein bracelets. -The Woman's Health Clinic needs 45 $10 Giant Eagle gift cards per month. - Men's shoes sizes 9 to 13 with Velcro closures. * In Constant need Page 4 of 6 Page 5 of 6 2014 Calendar of Events February Tuesday, 24 Feb @ 1900 Greensburg Detachment meeting. March Tuesday, 24 March @ 1900 Greensburg Detachment meeting. PA Marine Corps League Specialty License Plate Make your check in the amout of $30.00 payable to “MCL of PA,Inc.” Send Application to: Paul F. Hastings, PNC 1631 Bridge Street New Cumberland, PA 17070-1174 Applications sent (directly) to the Commonweath will be returned to the sender and not processed. Checks made payable to the “PA Dept of Transportation” will also be returned not processed. To ask questionsby phone: call PNC Hastings: 800-747-1420 or email: [email protected] MCL Greater Greensburg Detachment #834 21 S. Rolling Hills Ave Irwin, PA 15642 Page 6 of 6
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