Semper Fi. From the Commandant & Worthy Pack Leader MARCH - APRIL Newsletter of the Hardware City Detachment, Marine Corps League

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1 MARCH - APRIL 2017 Semper Fi Newsletter of the Hardware City Detachment, Marine Corps League From the Commandant & Worthy Pack Leader Time flies when you re having Fun The last six months since Oct when You entrusted Me to become the HCD Det. Commandant have been a Non- Stop flurry of activity for Us all. Spring is just around the corner (I Think). I m writing this letter on Feb. 9th while looking out the window at the biggest Blizzard We have had this winter. We are heading into Convention season with the Mid-Winter, March 2 3rd in Virginia. Followed by the Quad State in Newport, Rhode Island, April 21-22nd. The National Conv. will be held in Kansas from August, 13 19th. I will be attending all Three. For the most part the troubles that the National has had with Re-organization are now behind Us. Commandant Richard Gore & Executive Director Tom Hazlett have reshaped the MCL into an organization Of which We can all be proud. I have had a recent experience with the Ships Store. I needed supplies for our upcoming activities. The last few years have been an experience in Frustration. The Ships Store has been vended out & I am happy to report It is running on all cylinders. Calls are answered, Orders taken, Filled & Shipped within days. SPRINGING AHEAD We are all awaiting a decision by Our Legislature to continue funding Rifle Squads for Military Honors. Pressure from the Ct. VSO S resulted in $300,000 taken from the Transportation Fund & put back into the General Fund. Now We await a decision on how that money will be used. Keeping the pressure on Our State Reps. Is necessary for them to understand How important this issue is to Us. Our Dept. of Ct. State Convention will be held June 9th & 10th, Fri. & Saturday in Cromwell. Friday evening will be the Pack Growl. Sat. will be Dept. Meetings followed by the Banquet on Sat. evening. Notification of future events requiring our participation in April, May, June & July will be announced at Det. meetings & thru the Announcements Our Awards Dinner is on Sat. April 29th at Nuccis in Forestville. Chairman Marine Benson says tickets are now available. Please consider taking out an Ad in the Event Ad Book. Participation at Pack & Pound Growls is waning. Please remember it is an Honor to be a Devil Dog. You were selected for membership in the Fun & Honor Society because your Peers felt that your contributions to your Det. Was Worthy of inclusion in the Pound & Pack. Pups please note that promotion to Full Devil Dog is not automatic. Consideration of your activity, attending Growls, Etc. will be evaluated. Devil Dogs (Red Collars) please note that at the National Conv. In Aug., 13th-19th Is the Initiation for those who want promotion to Pedigree Devil Dog. (Gold Collar) The way to the Gold is only by attending the National Conv. The Host Hotel for the National is Sold-Out. At the back-up Hotel, rooms are Still available. Please access the National Home Page at MCLNational.org & Click on Programs then on National Conv. For updated info. Hardware City Det. Continues to be the most active in Ct. Your willingness To participate in Our Activities is greatly appreciated. A Huge & Loud OOH-RAH to all of You. Semper Fi. & Woof Woof. Jack Savage Commandant & Worthy Pack Leader

2 Ladies Auxiliary As we all know we have not done very much as a Unit since October. Due to weather and changes within the League itself we have not held a meeting since October. That is not to say we did nothing as a Unit. We in fact met at my house in December: Jean, Tina, Jackie and myself as well as with the assistance of Michael and Megan my two oldest grandchildren to put together our Christmas Gift Bags for our ambulatory Rocky Hill Veterans. The Gift Bags were distributed to each Veteran that attended the BINGO on December 16. We also distributed Afghans to every Veteran in attendance. The Veterans were extremely happy upon receiving some of these much needed personal items. Many of them are still disappointed in that we as well as every other service organization are no longer allowed to bring food or snacks to them. Tina & Jackie both members of our Unit also work closely with the Home of the Brave in Bridgeport. (The Home of the Brave is a place where servicemen and women can go when they get out of the Service. They are allowed to stay there for a few months while they look for a job & find somewhere to live). We donated some money from our treasury to purchase non perishable food, cleaning supplies and personal items for the residence there. March is the National Mid-Winter Conference: at the Fredericksburg Hospitality House in Fredericksburg, VA. Although we do not have anyone from our Unit going we do have our New England Div. Vice President, Elaine Schieffer going and she always comes back with a lot of very important information to share with all of us at our Department Meeting. As always we are always looking for NEW members as we try to retain our present members. REMEMBER MEN Those eligible for membership in the Auxiliary are the Wives, Widows, Mothers, Stepmothers, Sisters, Daughters, Stepdaughters, Grandmothers, Granddaughters, Sisters-in-law, Daughtersin-law of a Marine eligible to belong to the Marine Corps League and Women Marines, former, active and reserve. The ladies that have Birthdays in March are: Millie Herrington on the 16th, Chris Forbush on the 21st, and Tina Valentine on the 31st. In April we have Carol Cop on the 11th. I would like to wish all of these ladies a very Happy Birthday and many more. Our next meeting will be March 1st Erickson. Our Hostess is Judy Please stay healthy & safe. If it snows stay home so you don t get hurt we need all of you. Semper Fidelis Donna Rampone Hardware City Detachment Elected Officers, Commandant...Jack Savage sgt.savage@sbcglobal.net Sr. Vice Cmdt...Stephen Kinsella sgk679@aol.com Jr. Vice Cmdt... James W. Morris mcl.ch46@gmail.com Judge Advocate...Raymond L. Carrier ricsr1ald2@sbcglobal.net Sgt. At Arms... Craig Orzel Historian orzelcraig@yahoo.com Paymaster...Jack Hubert kingjack2nd@aol.com Newsletter Editor...Walt Benson walt.benson5@gmail.com Adjutant...Joe Marrocco jxmarro@aol.com Funeral Honors...Sal Sena Sr mermarine@sbcglobal.net Chaplain...Brendan Boyle bpboyle572@gmail.com Quartermaster...H. Gregory Forbush Veterans Service Officer Scout Liaison...Robert W. Smith Youth Activities Toys-For-Tots Chairman...Stephen Kinsella sgk679@aol.com Scholarship Chairman...Ray Burrington Web Sgt Public Relations...Michael Hornyak Detachment Recruiter...Bernie Berube silverbjb@yahoo.com

3 To all Marines, The 25th annual awards dinner is swiftly approaching and we have gone through great lengths to have as many members in attendance as possible. We have made it earlier to accommodate some of our members and we have held the price to help with costs. This is your event. It recognizes those who give of their time during the year but it also is in honor of each and everyone of you as you are a member of the brotherhood we belong to. If there is anything preventing you from attending this event please see me I may be able to help. Marine Benson March Birthdays Joseph F. Gately 3/2 Joseph W. Hendron 3/4 John A. Callahan 3/6 Michael Braun 3/9 Lawrence Sekscenski 3/13 Gordon Washburn, Jr. 3/15 Michael P. Szumigala 3/16 Pat Symecko 3/17 Michael P. Hornyak 3/18 Robert J. Massimin 3/19 James C Greenawalt 3/21 Maurice L. Collin 3/22 Jack H. Epstein 3/24 John Ferreira 3/24 Edmund L. Baker 3/27 Joseph DeVivo 3/27 Below is the list of members with dues March and April: March 2017 LeRoy Glover Mike Hornyak Adam Krzynowek Craig Orzel April 2017 Kevin Gilleran Charles Kingsbury Sean Lynch Daniel Murphy Carlos Sgro Michael Spencer April Birthdays Albert Buatti 4/1 Dennis Guay 4/1 John J. Hubert, Jr. 4/1 Francis J. Kelly 4/2 Richard E. Wearne, Sr 4/3 William E. Ryan 4/4 Edward Billue 4/12 Thomas J. Lipka 4/12 Charles F. Searle, Jr. 4/13 Joseph P. Gibbons, Jr. 4/17 Victor A. Schumsky 4/17 Bryce F. Linskey 4/18 Donald G. Erickson 4/21 Peter A. Plona 4/22 Daniel Bulawa 4/24 Joseph G. Morin 4/24 Randall Hightower 4/25 Andre J. St. Laurent 4/25 Salvatore Micucci 4/28

4 Hardware City Detachment 25 th Annual Awards Dinner Program Book April 29, 2017 The Marine Corps League preserves the traditions and promotes the interests of the United States Marines Corps. The League promotes the ideals of American freedom and democracy. We voluntarily aid and render assistance to all Marines as well as to their widows and orphans. The Hardware City Detachment Marine Corps League is involved in many local events and programs, Such as: Sending Care Packages to the Troops Overseas Toys For Tots Scholarship Programs Youth Physical Fitness Programs Veteran Affairs Voluntary Service Programs Wake and Funeral Details Hold monthly Bingo Night at the Rocky Hill Veterans Hospital Hold Annual Picnics at Children s Home, Support events at the Marine Reserve Center, Plainville, CT. Observe National Holidays such as Memorial Day and Veteran Day by participating in Parades and Monument Ceremonies Marine Corps League Rose Program Eagle Scouts Young Marines Program Walt Benson Lou Graham Salvatore Sena Sr. (203) Walt.benson5@gmail.com (203) lsxgraham@gmail.com (860) mermarine@sbcglobal.net Cut off date to be in hand is Saturday, April 16 th Please help support us by placing an Ad in our Program Book All ads must go to Walt Benson, Lou Graham or Salvatore Sena Sr.. Please make checks payable to the MCL HCD Mail to: Hardware City Detachment 781, PO Box 788 New Britain CT Contact Name: Address: Company Name: City: State: Zip: Phone: Dimensions ( ) Full Page x $ ( ) Half Page X $ ( ) Quarter Page X $ ( ) Business Card X Folded or Two Sided $ ( ) Business Card X $ ( ) Boosters $ 2.00 Ads must be print ready Content of Ad; ( or for business card ads please attach business card do not staple card) For ads with specific layouts or logos please to: lsxgraham@gmail.com ( on the subject line put HCD Ad ) AD sold by:

5 AGENCY: News of Camp Lejeune: Department of Veterans Affairs ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amends its adjudication regulations regarding presumptive service connection, adding certain diseases associated with contaminants present in the base water supply at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune (Camp Lejeune), North Carolina, from August 1, 1953, to December 31, This final rule establishes that veterans, former reservists, and former National Guard members, who served at Camp Lejeune for no less than 30 days (consecutive or nonconsecutive) during this period, and who have been diagnosed with any of eight associated diseases, are presumed to have incurred or aggravated the disease in service for purposes of entitlement to VA benefits. In addition, this final rule establishes a presumption that these individuals were disabled during the relevant period of service for purposes of establishing active military service for benefits purposes. Under this presumption, affected former reservists and National Guard members have veteran status for purposes of entitlement to some VA benefits. This amendment implements a decision by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that service connection on a presumptive basis is warranted for claimants who served at Camp Lejeune during the relevant period and for the requisite amount of time and later develop certain diseases. DATES: Effective Date: This final rule is effective March 14, The above is the latest concerning the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The VA will now consider eight diseases connected to the contaminated water. I cannot speak for everyone that served at Camp Lejeune but for me the fact that they will recognize and treat these diseases when they present is not good enough. When these diseases surface we may find its too late to treat them. Why not offer annual or semi-annual screening for these diseases. If a corporation did this to the public do you think this would not be part of the settlement? Why are veterans never given the same as everyone else? I feel the fighting for more is not over. Early detection of all of these diseases could save your life. Semper Fi Walt Benson Editor Funeral Commanders Comments I want to thank all the men of the Funeral Honors Detail for the many years of dedication in presenting Honors to all our brother & sister veterans. In 2016, the Funeral Honors rendered Final Honors to 246 veterans. 92 of those services were to our Fellow Marines. 42 of those 246 services were at NO PAY, for anyone on the Detail. Last November, I, along with the Funeral Directors Association was notified that when the funding ran out in Fiscal Year 2017, there would no longer be any more funding. That meant that if we wanted to perform Funeral Honors for our Veterans, the Funeral Homes would have to pass the cost of the services to the deceased family or the Detail would do it Pro Bono. The men of the Funeral Honors do not get paid. Three men out of five, receive a $50 stipend to cover the cost of their uniform, maintaining their uniform, maintain their equipment and travel expenses. On numerous occasions, these men have to travel anywhere from a half hour to an hour each way to get to the cemetery. On many occasions, they have had to render Honors to as many two five services in a single day. The time at the cemetery is anywhere from 45 minutes (if it s a quick one) to six hours. All for that same $50 Stipend. For the past four months, we have been struggling to retain funding for all future Funeral Honors. It has been an uphill battle which I feel we can win. The one thing that has come out of all this rallying at the State Capital, it has brought all the Veteran Service Organizations together. For the first time in this State s history, all the organizations came together for a common cause. To bury all our deceased veterans with Full Military Honors. All the State Veteran Service Organizations have already met on three different occasions. We have decided that we are going to meet on a regular basis, twice a year, to keep each other informed as to what is happening in this State. In unity, there is strength, and we are going to make sure that no Veteran in this State is going to be left behind. By maintaining unity & solidarity between all the VSO s in this State, the Legislature has found us to be a force to be reckoned with. The State Legislature has proposed $515,210 for each Fiscal Year 2017 & The Appropriations Committee has not met yet, and that is where all the slicing and dicing of the funding takes place. One thing is for sure.they are going to think twice before they slice and dice veteran funding. There are over 200,000 veterans in this State. That is approximately 1% of this State s population. Each veteran has at least two members in their family. All veterans have friends that will support them. That 200,000 veterans number just jumped to over a half million veteran supporter votes. We Veterans have to stay united. Sal V. Sena Sr Commander Funeral Honors Public Relations Officer, Marine Corps League Dept. of CT Semper Fi is not just a Marine motto, It s a Marines way of life

6 2017 MARCH 2017 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY MCL/HCD meeting NB/VFW 41 Veterans Dr. New Britain Mid Winter Convention VA Mid Winter Convention VA Mid Winter Convention VA MOOD Pack Growl Seymour N. B. Veterans council Meeting VFW 41 Veterans Dr. New Britain 1900 Membership Recruiting VA Newington 08:30 Bingo Rocky Hill Veterans Home HCD Staff Meeting Saints Membership Recruiting VA Newington 08:30 Activities Meeting Seymour, 1900 Hardware City Detachments website can be found on Dept. of CT s website: Please visit this site first, then go to MCL Detachments on line.

7 2017 APRIL 2017 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 Dept. Meeting VFW Montville MCL/HCD meeting NB/VFW 41 Veterans Dr. New Britain N. B. Veterans council Meeting VFW 41 Veterans Dr. New Britain 1900 Membership Recruiting VA Newington 08:30 Quad State Convention Newport RI MODD Bingo Rocky Hill Veterans Home 1900 Quad State Convention Newport RI Quad State Convention Newport RI Membership Recruiting VA HCD Staff Newington 08:30 meeting Saints Activities Meeting Seymour, th Annual Awards Dinner Nucci s 1500

8 Remembering When The first gaze upon their naked innocence, The feel of joy so intense, The sweet whispers of assuring love, The little eyes searching for the voice above, The first steps without a fall, The running after a ball or playing with a doll, The day 'ma ma' and 'da da' were heard, The sentences streaming beyond one word, The mixed emotions on their first day of school, The interesting times with the car pool, The first football and baseball thrown, The dance recital with beauty shown, The growth spurt into a teen, The start of self-independence seen, The nervous excitement of their first date, The difficult conversations when they were late, The pride in their various skills, The shutter at paying some of those bills, The kisses and hugs regardless of their best, The tears that fell when they left the nest, The time is today, The path taken is the military way,** The love still strong, magnified by ten, The parents always there while remembering when! By David G. Bancroft, Founder USA Patriotism! Copyright 2003 All Rights Reserved Attention To Orders! The next meeting of the Hardware City Detachment will be Wednesday March 1, 2017 at 7:00 pm VFW Post # Veterans Drive, New Britain, CT FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE SERVED WE WILL ALWAYS BE VERY PROUD