The Chester County Marine Chester County Detachment #286 P.O. Box 828, Downingtown, Pa 19335-0828 Detachment HQ s: 610-518-5375 (leave message) Commandant Doug Forsythe Volume xv, Issue 6 Dave Buckta, editor June 2018 CCMarineNews@Verizon.net Meetings: 4 th Monday of every month @1930 430 Acorn Lane Entrance on Chestnut St. Also park in rear of bldg Downingtown, Pa 19335 Board of Trustees (eff:2/1/2018) Commandant Doug Forsythe 610 656 1389 Sr. Vice Jerry Myers 610-721-2112 Junior Vice Bob Strehl 215-421-2465 Jr. Past Com Jim Copeland 610-883-0283 Judge Adv Bill Stellfox 215-823-9856 Trustees Pat Powell 610 952 5045 Lou Netta Tom Tanner Appointed Officers Adjutant Jack Meighan 484 888 2972 Service Officer Kathy Van Gorder Paymaster Chaplain Sgt. at Arms 610-489-3756 Larry Samples 610-269-9067 Kathy Van Gorder 610-489-3756 Leo Burke 610 913 6212 Standing Committees Audit Membership Nominating Ways & Means Bill Stellfox 215-823-9856 Bob Strehl 215-421-2465 Jim Copeland 610-883-0283 Jerry Myers 610-721-2112 Next Regular Meeting-- Date: July 23, 2018 @ 1930 From the Commandant s Desk Welcome Marines, FMF Corpsman, FMF Chaplains, Associates and Auxiliary & Visitors: Hope this writing finds all of you and yours in good spirits and health. I ask you all to continue your prayers for our members Kathy Van Gorder Walter Simcox, Rudy Spina, Jim Miller. Please let us know of any others that are suffering and in pain or have passed, please contact Kathy Van Gorder and Kay Croll. The Department Convention was the 20 th to the 24 th of June 2018 in York, Pa. This was our 75 th year and the Department a ribbon and medal to attendees. I have picked up additional ribbons and medals for Detachment. Please Dave Buckta in the loop of calendar events and dates. Also, let Dave know of your special occasion. Anniversary, Birthday, and provide a picture Boot Camp pic. Our Detachment remains #1 in Department honoring Boy Scouts that have obtained their Eagle rank. The Detachment honors the new Eagles each year with Good Citizen Award/Certificates. May has come and gone with numerous events. Thank you all for stepping up and helping this detachment accomplishing so much. Detachment members and this Commandant remain committed to supporting events & organizations that support our Mission. In closing, please continue to bring in guests, speakers, potential members, associates and auxiliary to our home. If you can help during Bingo events, please contact Past Junior Commandant Jim Copeland and Barb Oberst President Detachment Auxiliary. Please keep all our Marines, Sailors, Corpsmen, Chaplains, Soldiers, and Veterans at home and overseas in your prayers. God bless us all and this great nation. Please remember all our family and friends that support us and need our support. Semper Fi Doug Forsythe
SPECIAL COMMITTEES (2015) Americanism Dan Condron 610-458-0797 Budget Finance Bill Stellfox 610-823-9856 Building Maintenance Leo Burke 610-913-6212 Bylaws Bill Stellfox 215-823-9856 Chicken BBQ Doug Forsythe 610-827-9281 Color Guard Jedi Burns 610-517-1107 Detachment Donations Doug Forsythe 610-656-1389 Eagle Scouts Larry Samples 484-433-0086 Fund Raising Larry Samples 484-433-0086 Golf Outing Bob Campagna 610-613-7426 Locker Box Doug Forsythe 610-656-1389 Marine Corps Ball Gerard (Jed)Burns 610-517-1107 Marine Of The Year Larry Samples 484-433-0086 Memorial Day Jim Copeland 610-883-0283 Medal of Honor Grove Doug Forsythe 610-656-1389 New Member Packets Jim Copeland 610-883-0283 Bob Strehl 215-421-2465 Kay Croll 610-696-7589 Scholarships Phil Murray 610-636-2204 Flag Retirement Leo Burke 610-913-6212 Web Sergeant Bill Stellfox 215-823-9856 SPECIAL EVENTS Bingo J. Copeland & L. Burke 610-913-6212 Medal of Honor Cemetery Doug Forsythe 610-827-9281 Toys For Tots Phil Murray 610-636-2204 VAVS Dan Condron 610-458-0797 NEWSLETTER POLICY Chester County Marine, the only publication paid for by Chester County Detachment MCL #286, is published monthly as a service to the membership and other interested organizations. We will reprint any article deemed to be newsworthy and not political. The editor reserves the right to modify any items selected for printing. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of National MCL, Inc., Pennsylvania MCL, Inc. or the Chester County Detachment. All members and other interested parties are invited to submit articles for publication. Liaisons American Legion #475 Tom Logan 610-696-3323 Auxiliary Barbara Oberst 610 518-4845 Jim Copeland 610-518-3444 DAV #90 Ken Schweitzer 610-489-2703 Marksmanship Dennis Brown 610-692-4782 Military Order of the Purple Heart Doug Forsythe 610-656-1389 Spring City Vets Home Ken Schweitzer 610-489-2703 Viet Nam Veterans of America Chapter 436 Ken Schweitzer 610-489-2703 VFW #845 Jim Copeland 610-883-0283 W. Chester Veterans Council Jim Copeland 610-883-0283 Doug Forsythe WCU SVG Scholarship Fund Gene Gerard 610-256-6267 Summer Uniform Summer uniform is effective 01 May, 2018 as follows: Red Cover Short Sleeve White Shirt Black Trousers Black Shoes & Socks Red Satin Jacket when appropriate Marine Corps League Uniforms available online: https://www.mclnational.org/store.html Dave Buckta is publishing the CC Marine Newsletter. Please send all of your newsworthy items, including photos and links to CCMarineNews@Verizon.net PA MCL 75 th Anniversary Medal and Ribbon The PA MCL League is celebrating its 75 th anniversary with a special medal/ribbon Please see Doug Forsythe for ordering questions 6/24/2018 Page 2 CC MCL Newsletter
Minutes From Meeting on May 21, 2018 Meeting Opened: 7:35 PM Roll Call of Officers: Officer Member Present Commandant Doug Forsythe X Sr. Vice-Commandant Jerry Myers X Jr. Vice-Commandant Bob Strehl X Judge Advocate Bill Stellfox Jr. Past Commandant Jim Copeland X Adjutant Jack Meighan X Paymaster Larry Samples X Chaplain Kathy Van Gorder X Sergeant at Arms Leo Burke X Service Officer Kathy Van Gorder X Trustee Lou Netta X Trustee Pat Powell X Trustee Tom Tanner X 11 officers present. Buddy Rhoades, Commander of the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), spoke to the detachment about Sam Schroeder, a Vietnam veteran who has been a patient at the Coatesville VA Hospital for the last nine months. Sam is being fed by tube and his wife Carolyn was helping to care for him. Sam s wife Carolyn recently died of a heart attack. Veterans groups learned that Carolyn did not have any insurance and that the Wilde Funeral Home in Parkesburg handled her cremation. Donations are being sought to reimburse Wilde for their services. Buddy also advised that the Military Order of the Purple Heart and Wounded Warriors are sponsoring the Purple Heart Truck Run in which a 2018 modified Ford truck travels the country driven by veterans who have lost their legs. Buddy said the truck will be in Philadelphia on 6/19 Page 3 6/24/2018 CC MCL Newsletter
and 6/20/2018 and invited detachment members to attend the ceremonies. Veterans can sign their names on the truck, which will eventually be driven to Washington state for the national MOPH convention where the truck will be awarded to a veteran. Charlie Chamberlain, Chairman of the Benefits Committee Department of Pennsylvania, was recognized. New Members: None. Minutes from Previous Meeting: The minutes from 4/23/2018 were provided to members. A motion to accept the minutes with a correction was made by Jerry Myers and seconded by Tom Tanner. The motion passed. Correspondence: Missions First Housing has established the Whitehall Inn Veterans Home in Spring City, PA. We have received a thank you from Missions First acknowledging our $250 contribution. Our detachment has a seat along with other service organizations on the Whitehall Inn advisory council. The Whitehall Inn has 48 apartments for needy veterans and their families. We have also received a thank you from the Memorial Council at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery for our contribution of $500, which went to repairing damage from recent storms to the Avenue of the Flags at Indiantown Gap. Paymaster Report: Paymaster Samples presented the paymaster s report. The Wawa donation/recruitment table brought in $1,741.36 at Parkesburg. A motion to receive the paymaster s report subject to audit was made by Fred LeClair and seconded by Dan Condron. The motion passed. Members or Family Members Sick or in Distress: Jed Burns has advised that his sister Caroline is on hospice with cancer and has moved in with Jed and his family. Report of Officers: The detachment hosted a ceremony at the detachment with the Patriots Club of Lionville Middle School on Saturday to show students how to properly dispose of American flags. Volunteers for Veterans which used to be the auxiliary of VFW Post 845 also participated. Standing Committees: Bob Strehl (Membership): Looking for volunteers to help with the membership committee. 6/24/2018 CC MCL Newsletter Page 4
Special Committees: Larry Samples (Eagle Scouts): Larry, Doug and Jerry Myers issued 217 Good Citizenship Awards to boy scouts obtaining their Eagle Scout certifications. Jim Copeland (Bingo): Attendance has been excellent with usual crowds of 35 to 40 people; the last bingo had 66 attendees a record thanks to a visiting ladies club. Bingo income has also been up. Dennis Brown (Marksmanship): The next membership meeting will be on Sunday, 6/3/2018 at Uncle Bobby s Farm. The pistol match will be from 6/8 to 6/10/2018. The June marksmanship meeting will be at the detachment on 6/24/2018; the rifle match will be 9/7 to 9/9/2018. Eight shooters showed up for the Delaware County match; Pat Powell came in 2 nd, Dennis came in 4 th, Bob Saenz came in 5 th, Al Harper came in 7 th and Tim O Hara came in 9 th place. Bob Campagna (Golf): We re a little behind on hole sponsorships, tee and bag sponsors as well as white bag prizes. Larry Samples (Fund Raising): There will be a donation/recruitment table at the Walmart in Exton on Saturday, 6/16/2018; volunteers are needed. Pat Powell (Color Guard): Color guards and shooting details will be needed for the Marshallton parade on 5/27/2018 and the Downingtown parade and cemetery services on 5/28/2018. Dan Condron (VAVS): On 6/8/2018 at 10:30 AM, a World War II veteran will be awarded the French Legion of Merit. Unfinished Business: None. New Business: Kathy Van Gorder made a motion to issue a $500 check to the Freedom Foundation, Valley Forge Chapter, which was seconded by Jim Copeland. The motion passed. Doug pointed out that this is an annual donation from the detachment, which had previously been budgeted. Fred LeClair made a motion to help the family of veteran Sam Schroeder by donating $500 to help pay the funeral expenses for his wife. Lee Beyer seconded the motion, which passed. Good of the League: The Pottstown Rotary Club s duck race will be on 7/4/2018; the detachment receives $4.00 back on every $5.00 ticket we sell. Kay Croll suggested that the detachment recommend Dan Condron for the Past National Commandant VAVS Service Award. Dan meets all the criteria for the award, he is an active volunteer at the Coatesville VA Hospital for more than three years, has been recommended by the detachment, and his dues are current. 6/24/2018 CC MCL Newsletter Page 5
Bob Strehl advised that his father Master Gunnery Sergeant R. L. Strehl, USMC retired, also died a few weeks short of his 94 th birthday. MGySgt. Strehl served in the Marines from 1943 to 1976. Jerry Myers said his brother Jack Myers died on 3/27/2018; Jack Myers served in the Marines from 1956 to 1959. Jim Copeland said Dave Mundy recently visited Rudy Spina and reported that Rudy is not doing well and no longer recognizes anyone. Leo Burke was admitted to the hospital suffering from pneumonia and was subsequently transferred to a rehab facility where he continues to improve. Lou Netta also is recovering from pneumonia and the recent loss of his wife. Kathy Van Gorder continues on oxygen therapy. Report of Officers: None. Standing Committees: None. Special Committees: Dan Condron (VAVS): Our detachment has paid for a Netflix streaming subscription for Building 5 at the VA Hospital. Dennis Brown (Marksmanship):. The Delaware County match is scheduled for 5/12/2018in Brookhaven, PA. The next marksmanship meeting will take place on 5/20/2018 at Uncle Bobby s. The pistol match will be from 6/8 to 6/10/2018. The June marksmanship meeting will be at the detachment on 6/24/2018; the rifle match will be 9/7 to 9/9/2018. Pat Powell (Color Guard): Color guards and shooting details will be needed for the Marshallton parade on 5/27/2018 and the Downingtown parade and cemetery services on 5/28/2018. Unfinished Business: None. New Business: None. Good of the League: The Women s Auxiliary of the Kennett Square American Legion is sponsoring a dine & donate on 5/17/2018 at the P. J. Whelihan s in Downingtown from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM with 15% of the donations going to the Grand Canyon Warriors to fund their third trip from 8/6 to 8/16/2018. The Pottstown Rotary Club s duck race will be on 7/4/2018; the detachment receives $4.00 back on every $5.00 ticket we sell. 6/24/2018 CC MCL Newsletter 6
The detachment unanimously voted to recommend Dan for the Past National Commandant VAVS Service Award. Detachment members are needed for the following Memorial Day activities: 5/24/2018 Samuel Nicholas gravesite, Philadelphia, PA 11:00 AM; 5/27/2018 Marinelli Park, Downingtown 12:00 PM; Marshallton 1:15 PM; 5/28/2018 Northwood and St. Joseph s Cemeteries 8:00 AM; Downingtown parade 10:00 AM at Beaver Creek Elementary School. Muster for the above events is 30 minutes prior to the start of the event with the exception for the Nicholas gravesite. Detachment members going to Philadelphia should meet at the detachment at 9:30 AM. Tom Tanner spoke to the detachment regarding the proper wearing of our Marine Corps League uniforms. Announcements: A Devil Dog growl will be held at the detachment on Sunday, 6/10/2018 at 2:30 PM. The Department of Pennsylvania MCL Convention will be in York, PA from 6/20 to 6/24/2018. The detachment s auxiliary is still looking for members. Closing: 9:00 PM EVENT: Flag Ceremony for Hospice care Veterans DATE: May 22, 2018 SUMMARY: MCL presented/posted & retired colors all veterans. Each veteran received a challenge coin. Refreshments served after. MEMBERS: OIC Jedi Burns, Doug Forsythe LOCATION: White Horse Village Newtown, Pa SUBMITTED BY: Doug Forsythe 6/24/2018 CC MCL Newsletter 7
EVENT: MCL Fund Raiser & Recruiting Outpost DATE: June 16, 2018 LOCATION: Walmart Exton, PA SUMMARY: MCL fund raising and recruitment; distributed US Flags and MCL Marine Roses for those who made donations; recruitment efforts were made for prospective members, very positive. The donors were, as usual, very sincere in saying thank you and giving their support to our detachment MEMBERS: Bob Campagna, Leo Burke, Lou Netta, Larry Samples (OIC) SUBMITTED BY: Larry Samples EVENT: Marshallton Parade DATE: May 27, 2018 LOCATION: Marshallton, PA MEMBERS: Jim Copeland, Doug Forsythe, Dan Fitzpatrick, Leo Burke, Pat Powell, Dave Buckta, Jerry Myers, Tom Tanner, Larry Samples and Kay Croll SUMMARY: Detachment personnel carried the colors through the parade route and at the ceremony. A firing detail provided respect for the fallen. The parade included speech by local representatives and a bicycle decorating contest. Refreshments were served after the event. SUBMITTED BY: Dave Buckta 6/24/2018 CC MCL Newsletter 8
EVENT: PA MCL Pistol Match DATE: June 09, 2018 LOCATION: Fort Indiantown Gap, PA MEMBERS: Pat Powell, Bob Saenz, Pat Vollmer, Mike Rapp, Gary Schaefer, Tom Tanner, Walt Simcox, Lee Byer, Charlie Wertz, and Dave Buckta PURPOSE: Ten members of the marksmanship team participated in a pistol competition consisting of 10 rounds slow fire, 10 rounds of timed fire and 10 round of rapid fire. Results out soon stand by! SUBMITTED BY: Dave Buckta 6/24/2018 CC MCL Newsletter 9
EVENT: 2018 Downingtown Memorial Day Parade DATE: May 28, 2018 LOCATION: Kerr Park, Downingtown, PA SUMMARY: There were wreath presentations (including Jim Copeland sending the wreath into the creek), the reading of Logan s Orders, a reading of the names of those killed in combat from Downingtown, the raising of the American Flag and a 21 gun salute. The Parade started with A 1955 Oldsmobile carrying the Grand Marshall, Jeanne Rapp (a member of our Ladies Auxiliary) and her husband Michael. Next came the Marine Corps League members followed by the other branches of the military, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, the Downingtown School Band, several Corvettes and a number of local Fire Companies. The MCL provided a firing detail and raised the larger Holiday Flag. After the parade there was a short ceremony at the Downingtown VFW and a luncheon MEMBERS: Doug Forsythe, Jim Copeland, Leo Burke, Lee Beyer, Fred LeClaire, Kay Kroll, Danny Fitzpatrick, Pat Powell, Dennis Brown, David Buckta, Tom Tanner SUBMITTED BY: Jeanne Rapp 6/24/2018 CC MCL Newsletter Page 10
Marine Corps League Auxiliary May was a busy month for us. At our monthly meeting, Linda Chamberlain and Joanne Bryan installed our officers. I helped out with the Knights of Columbus Beef and Bingo, held at our Home. We also hosted a Basket Bingo, with the women from a local business organization, and the kitchen was crazy-busy! Thank you to Michael Rapp, Lisa Sundin and Gary for their help in the kitchen. On 5/12, Ted Kavanaugh from Chester County Emergency Services gave a class on weather preparedness, which was much-liked by the attendees. Pat Powell also had an impressive display of prepping items to show the audience. Thanks, Pat! Pat will be giving the next class on July 10th, from 7:00-8:30 PM, on what you need in your emergency bugout kit. Pat is very knowledgeable on emergency prepping, so come out to hear him! The State Convention was held in York, Pa. Several of the Auxiliary members attended. I wasn t able to attend, due to work and feline obligations, including four new kittens born in my garage. We took pity on a stray female a couple of months ago, not knowing she was with child four, to be exact and brought her indoors. We had quite the shock when we moved a storage cabinet to find Mom with four of the most adorable kittens EVER living behind it. No, we re not keeping them! (Don t I wish!) The last kitten I raised was our very own detachment kitty, Smedley LeJeune Daley Oberst, who I found outside on the back stairs the day after the Chicken BBQ. He will be two soon. Jeanne Rapp was the Grand Marshal of the Downingtown Memorial Day Parade! Congratulations, Jeanne! Please check out our Facebook Auxiliary page for Marine Corps trivia, fun, and events: https://www.facebook.com/chestercountymarinecorpsleagueauxiliary/ Our first-ever Ice Cream Social Fundraiser will be on Saturday, July 14 th, from 1-5 PM, at our Home. We ll set up as we do at Bingo: cashier, runners, kitchen staff, and the customers will eat indoors. This is being held by the Auxiliary, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Marines. We could use 10 helpers that day. If we don t get enough help signed up by July 7 th, we may have to cancel the Ice Cream Social and many people s eyes lit up when I told them about it so please sign up to help! You can email me at mrsbucket1234@yahoo.com. Please tell your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors about it! I will be advertising, but word-of-mouth is a huge help. Thanks! Barbara Oberst, Auxiliary President 6/24/2018 Page 11
EVENT: Marinelli Park Memorial Day Ceremony DATE: May 27, 2018 LOCATION: Marinelli Park, Downingtown SUMMARY: The MCL took part in a Memorial Day Ceremony to honor James and Dominic Marinelli who were killed in WWII. Phil Dague, Downingtown Councilman led the ceremony, using the book, They Conquer Who Endure, written by Jeanne Rapp, a member of our Ladies Auxiliary as a reference for the story of the Marinelli Brothers. The event included a wreath presentation, flag procession, a 21 gun salute, the playing of the National Anthem during the raising of the American Flag. Danny Fitzpatrick played Taps. Also in attendance were members of the Downingtown VFW. MEMBERS: Leo Burke, Jim Copeland, Lee Beyer, Fred LeClaire, Doug Forsythe, Kay Kroll, Danny Fitzpatrick, Jerry Meyers SUBMITTED BY: Jeanne Rapp EVENT: Detachment Bingo DATE: June 02 & 16, 2018 LOCATION: CC MCL Chestnut Street MEMBERS: Leo Burke, Jim Copeland, Dave Mundy, Mike Rapp, Joanne Brown, Barb Oberest, Dennis Brown, Mario Scherl. Special thanks to Della Scherl. PURPOSE: Regularly scheduled Bingo operations were conducted in the CC MCL headquarters area. June 02 had 36 participants and June 16 had 37 participants. SUBMITTED BY: Leo Burke EVENT: Monthly Bingo - Shut Ins DATE: June 13, 2018 LOCATION: VA Coatesville, Bldg 59A MEMBERS: Tom Tanner, Leo Burke, Bill Kennedy, Dan Condron and Conrad McGinley (General Smedley D. Butler Detachment) PURPOSE: Presented $175 in Canteen Books and Ice Cream & Tasty Cakes to 15 vets SUBMITTED BY: Leo Burke CC MCL Life Membership as of February 2018 Beyer, Lee Fay, Gary N. McIlhenney, James D. Sheldon, Raymond Bradford Sr., James Flanigan, Rogers, C. Meighan, Jack Shields, William F. Brown, Dennis Forsythe, Douglas R. Messinger, David B. Simcox Jr., Walter W. Bullock III, Daniel W. Meyer, Donald W. Spano, Robert Burke, Leo J. Goncharoff, Jamie, W. Miller, James J. Spina, Rudolph Jr. Burns, Gerard F. (Jeb) Goodwin, Donald Morrow, Richard J. Stellfox, William E. Ceshan Jr. John J. Guyer, Michael F. Mundy, David J. Strehl, Robert L. Condron, Daniel J. Harper, Albert B. Murray, Philip Stone, Robert G. Copeland, James Hinckley, John E. Myers, Jerry Supplee, Peter R. Croll, Kay Jacobsen, Leif O Brien, John F. Tanner, Tom R. Corcoran, Willi J. Jefferis. Steven G. Patton, Jay F. Van Gorder, Elmer S. Assoc Curtis, Allen Kay, Joseph Peterson, Mark A. Van Gorder, Katherine A. Detering, Hank Keers, William G. Pinter, Julius Wertz, Albert R. DiMatteo, John Kutz, Walter Pitt, Jr. Thomas A. Wahn, Mark DiSciullo, Dominic Lauser Jr., James, C Powell, Patrick B. Wood, Fred R. Donegan, James P. LeClair, Fred Ribble, Jack Wertz, Charles Donovan, Robert F. Logan, Thomas M. Samples, Larry L. Woodward, William E. Dormer, Robert L. Lowrey, Wesley Sanders, Jeffrey A. Yocum, James Dulin Jr., Joseph E. McCarthy, James F. Scherl, Mario Assoc Engman 6/24/2018 Jr., Ulrick F. McDonnell, James J. Schweitzer, Kenneth Page 12 CC MCL Newsletter
Chester County Marine July 2018 EVENT Calendar July 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 Samuel Nicholas Ceremony 4 5 6 7 Bingo 5:30pm Jim Copeland 8 9 10 11 VA Bingo Dan Condron CC MCL Staff Meeting 7:30pm Doug Forsythe 12 13 14 Ice Cream Fundraiser 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 MCL HQ 1400-1700 Barb Oberst Bingo 5:30pm Jim Copeland 22 25 General Membership Mtg 26 VA Bingo Dan Condron 25 26 27 28 7:30pm Doug Forsythe 29 30 31 6/24/2018 CC MCL Newsletter 13
Chester County Marine August 2018 EVENT Calendar August 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 Bingo 5:30pm Jim Copeland 5 6 7 8 VA Bingo Dan Condron 9 10 11 CC MCL Staff Meeting 7:30pm Doug Forsythe 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Bingo 5:30pm Jim Copeland 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 General Membership Mtg 7:30pm Doug Forsythe 28 VA Bingo Dan Condron 29 30 31 End of Newsletter 6/24/2018 CC MCL Newsletter 14