JANUARY 2016 Vol. 11 Editor Joe Hughes mcllenexaks@gmail.com Meetings: 4 th Wednesday of the Month VFW Post 7397 9550 Pflumm in Lenexa, KS 66215 Detachment Website: NEW http://www.mcl1025.com/ MCL National Website: http://www.mclnational.org Facebook Website: Marine Corps League of Lenexa, KS Detachment Officers: Commandant: John Byrnes NEW jjbyrnes23@gmail.com 913.268-9363 Senior Vice Commandant: Jim Denton dentondelivery@aol.com 816. 223.9600 Junior Vice Commandant: Steve Thomas sthomas-mega@comcast.net 913.636.3534 Judge Advocate: Bob Patterson bdpatter@everestkc.net 913.685.8726 Adjutant / Paymaster: Bill Clinton bdclint@sbcglobal.net 913.484.3078 Chaplain: Bear Sobek lakotavalley@wildblue.net 913.557.4459 SGT. at Arms: Chris Stergos stergos1091@yahoo.com 913.907.0007 The Marine Corps League is the only congressionally chartered United States Marine Corps-related veteran s organization in the United States. Its Congressional Charter was approved by the75th U.S. Congress and signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 4, 1937. The organization credits its founding in 1923 to legendary Marine Corps Commandant John A. Lejeune. The group holds a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code. Marine Corps League Mission Statement: Members of the Marine Corps League join together in camaraderie and fellowship for the purpose of preserving the traditions and promoting the interests of the United States Marine Corps, banding together those who are now serving in the United States Marine Corps and those who have been honorably discharged from that service that they may effectively promote the ideals of American freedom and democracy, voluntarily aiding and rendering assistance to all Marines and former Marines and to their widows and orphans; and to perpetuate the history of the United States Marine Corps and by fitting acts to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines. Detachment Commandant s Message Marines, FMF Corpsmen and Auxiliary, I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year, 2015 is in the books and what a great year it was for the Detachment. We won the bids for the 2017 MCL National Convention, the Midwest Division Spring Conference in April, the Department of Kansas Conference in June and then the forming of the New M/Sgt. Luis Romero, Jr Ladies Auxiliary plus all of the other activities we did this past year like Toys for Tots and Rawhide s. I want to thank everyone for what a great job they have done this past year. Now it s on to 2016. As you already know this year is going to be very busy for the Detachment and we are going to need your help with all of the events that the Detachment has committed to. We are going to be asking you the membership to step-up and help. We will be going over all of the events and dates for this year at our January meeting. I would like to congratulate the ladies and 0fficers of the M/Sgt. Luis Romero, Jr. Ladies Auxiliary for getting this up and running. I know that they have put in a lot of hard work in getting this organized. We need to give them all of the support that we can. The Officers of the M/Sgt. Luis Romero, Jr. Ladies Auxiliary will be installed at our January 27 th meeting. If your wife or anyone else you know would like to join the Auxiliary bring them to the meeting. Our new web page is up and running thanks to Tim Cunningham our new Web Sgt. He has a lot up on it already like the newsletters and a calendar with our events. There are more up-dates to come, so keep checking in on it. We will have more on it at the meeting. The web address is www.mcl1025.com. Also I hope that everyone has been receiving the e-mails from General Larry Oppenheimer the detachment s new e-mail, if not let us know so we can get your information up to date. What an outstanding job Bill Clinton has done this year with the Toys for Tots campaign. The amount of toys collected this year was 37,884 and I would like to thank Bill Clinton and everyone else that participated for their hard work and donating their time during the holidays. We have BBQ events at Rawhide s this month and if you can help let myself (John Byrnes) 913-268-9363 or Bill Clinton 913-484-3078 know. Aloha indoor Bike Night Thursday 21 st January from 1700 (5pm) to 2000 (8pm) and the Luau Open House weekend Saturday 23 rd January and Sunday 24 th January from 1100 (11am) to 1500 (3pm) Our next Breakfast gathering will be Tuesday February 16th at 0900 at Perkins Family Restaurant & Bakery 11200 West 87th Street Lenexa, KS 66214 913-495- 2568 hope to see you there.! John Byrnes, Commandant
THIS DATE IN MARINE CORPS HISTORY 04 Jan 1991: Floods caused Camp Pendleton to close its gates to all but essential personnel. 15 Jan 1865: 365 Marines in naval landing force attack Fort Fisher at Wilmington, NC. 16 Jan 1991: Operation Desert Storm begins. 17 Jan 1944: Elements of the 1st Tanks assaults Japanese on Arawe Peninsula, New Britain. 17 Jan 1951: The 1st Marine Division begins mopping-up operations in Pohang, Korea. 17 Jan 1993: Floods caused Camp Pendleton to close its gates to all but essential personnel. 19 Jan 1929: Brigadier General Smedley Butler s 3d Marine Brigade disbanded at Tiensin, China. 20 Jan 1968: North Vietnamese forces attack the 26th Marines at Khe Sanh, South Vietnam. 25 Jan 1928: Marines participated in Battle of El Chipote during occupation of Nicaragua. 27 Jan 1778: Captain John Trevett leads 26 Marines in capture of Fort Nassau, Bahamas. 27 Jan 1837: Colonel Henderson wins Battle of Hatchee-Lustee River against Seminoles. 29 Jan 1991: First major Marine ground action of Desert Storm. 31 Jan 1944: American flag first raised over Japanese soil by B/1/25 in the Marshall Islands. 31 Jan 1968: Viet Cong seize the US Embassy in Saigon until driven-out by American troops. World War I Recruting Poster Standing Committees Volunteers Needed Calling: Rick Hinrichs Fundraising: Open Marines in Need: Bill Clinton Historian: Open Ceremonial: Ken Fain Media Relations: Joe Hughes Mail Call Editor: Joe Hughes Supply: Steve Thomas Community Affairs: Bill Clinton Toy s for Tot s Bill Clinton Donations: Bill Clinton Veteran s Affairs (VA): Open Facilities: Jim Denton Young Marines: Jim Welchert / Steve Thomas Liaison Fallen Marines: Marcia Sands Youth: Mike Swearingen Family Activities Joe Hughes Page 2 of 9
CALENDAR 21 JANUARY Rawhide Fundraiser: Aloha indoor Bike Night 05:00PM 08:00PM (Contact Bill Clinton to volunteer) 23-24 JANUARY Rawhide Fundraiser: Luau Open House weekend 11:00AM 03:00PM (Contact Bill Clinton to volunteer) GENERAL LARRY OPPENHEIMER News NEW DETACHMENT WEBSITE 27 JANUARY MCL Meeting - 07:00PM VFW MCL Auxiliary Meeting - 07:00PM VFW Installation of Officers / New Members Welcome 03 FEBUARY MCL Convention / Officers Meeting 06:00PM VFW (Change from normal meeting time, Feb only) 12 FEBUARY VFW Steak Dinner - $15 / person @ 06:00PM 07:00PM 14 FEBUARY American Legion Riders Breakfast 09:00AM 11:30AM @ VFW 16 FEBUARY Detachment Breakfast Get-Together, Perkins Family Restaurant & Bakery 11200 West 87th Street Lenexa @ 09:00AM http://www.mcl1025.com/ No login password Connect from any computer Easy navigation Welcome Aboard Booklet Newsletters Calendar USMC website links 27 FEBUARY MCL Meeting 07:00PM VFW 3-5 MARCH MCL National Mid-Winter Conference, Falls Church, VA 2017 National Convention status update / Hughes 15-16 APRIL MCL Midwest Conference, Overland Park, KS Our Detachment is hosting this event. 11 JUNE MCL Department of Kansas Conference, Lenexa VFW Our Detachment is hosting this event. Page 3 of 9
NEW CHARTER MEMBERS WELCOME: we have established a new Marine Corps League Ladies Auxiliary. Our official name is the M/Sgt. Luis Romero, Jr. Unit in honor of Aurora Romero s late husband and Maria Romero s late father. On January 27, 2016 we will be installing new officers and having our first meeting at 7:00PM at the VFW post. Please stop by for more information. M/SGT. LUIS ROMERO, JR. UNIT 2015-2016 Officers Maria Romero, President maria.romeromr16@gmail.com Aurora Romero, Sr. Vice aromero6316@gmail.com Katy Cowart, Jr. Vice ladyjynx623@gmail.com Donna Hughes, Judge Advocate donnahughes20@hotmail.com Karen Cunningham, Treasurer Kbcunningham1120@yahoo.com Cathy Nelson, Secretary cjbn70@gmail.com Erin Cecil, Chaplain erincecil6@yahoo.com About Us The Marine Corps League Auxiliary was chartered on September 4, 1937 as a subsidiary organization of the Marine Corps League. On August 25, 1950, the Auxiliary was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia as an affiliate of the Marine Corps League. The Auxiliary was formed for the purposes of promoting the interests of the U. S. Marine Corps, the Marine Corps League and to protect and advance the welfare of Marines and their dependents. Auxiliary members participate in a wide variety of programs that benefit and preserve the fundamental rights and freedoms of every person of this Nation, young and old. Your involvement is vital to the success of our Unit. It takes each and every one of us pulling together to get the important work done of serving our Veterans, our families, and our communities. Eligibility for Membership in the Marine Corps League Auxiliary: Regular membership in this Auxiliary shall be open to Wives, Widows, Mothers, Grandmothers, Sisters, Daughters, Granddaughters, Stepmothers, Stepdaughters, Daughters-in-Law, Aunts, Nieces, Mothers-in-Law and Sisters-in-Law of a Marine or a US Navy Corpsman currently serving, former, active and Reserves. Page 4 of 9
M/SGT. LUIS ROMERO, JR. UNIT Page 5 of 9
PHOTO GALLERY Life Time Achievement FALLEN MARINES Charles D. Roberts, Jr. - July 2, 2014 Richard B. Hartzell - July 10, 2014 Tony Lang - July 13, 2014 Donald C. Stone, Sr. - July 17, 2014 Joseph L. Sidor - October 11, 2014 Charles E. Glenn - 22 Oct 2014 Dale M. Warden - 26 Jan 2015 Arthur L. Upton - 21 Feb 2015 William R. Stirling - 23 Feb 2015 Darrell R. Slawson - 26 Feb 2015 Robert L. Smith - 10 Mar 2015 Patick G. Hauser - 13 Mar 2015 Brian Keith - 1 June 2015 (Member) Lee Reynolds (Member) You ll always be a Marine because you went to Parris Island, San Diego, or the hills of Quantico. So there's no such thing as a former Marine." Commandant John Byrnes presents General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment Life Time Achievement Award to Don Marsolek. 2015 Detachment Marine of Year Commandant John Byrnes presents General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment 2015 Marine of the Year Award to Jim O Connor. Sick & Distressed Please convey information on sick and distressed to Chaplain Bear Sobek lakotavalley@wildblue.net (913)557-4459 The General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment collected 37,884 toys for the kids this year Page 6 of 9
MCL Midwest Division 2016 Spring Conference Schedule of Events Friday, April 15, 2016 1200 Registration 1400 Hospitality 0pen 1900 Auction (Cash Bar) Hospitality Room closes Room Re-Opens after the Auction Saturday, April 16, 2016 0730 Registration opens 0830 Memorial Service - Courtyard 1000 Joint Session 1030 Session MCL Meetings 1030 Session MCL Auxiliary Meeting 1200 Chow time (Hospitality or Restaurant) 1300 Reconvene meetings 1430 Devil Dog Growl 1500 Hospitality Room Opens 1800 Cocktail Hour (Cash Bar) 1900 Banquet Hospitality Room re-opens after Banquet Volunteers Needed Contact Joe Hughes Friday April 15 Registration Hospitality Room Auction 11AM 3PM 3PM 7PM 12PM 4PM 4PM 7PM 7PM 10PM OR Create your own Volunteer Hours Saturday April 16 Registration Hospitality Room Sunday Clean-up 7AM 10AM 11PM 2PM 2PM 6PM 8A Doubletree Hotel, Overland Park, KS MEETING REGISTRATION by March 24th MCL Member / Guest Name Detachment Title Phone/email MCL Auxiliary Member / Guest: Name Unit/Guest Title Phone/email Hospitality (Food & Drinks - $30.00 each) Banquet - $40.00 each Grilled Chicken Breast Chicken Fried Steak MCL League Registration Fee $5.00 (No fee: MCL Auxiliary or Guest) Total amount enclosed Make Check payable to: General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment Mail to: Joe Hughes 8021 Hall Street Lenexa, KS 66219 CUT OFF DATE MARCH 24 th, 2015 Page 7 of 9
PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS Advertising Specialties Corporate Apparel 913.839.6609 800.466.7186 Bob Allen Ford 9239 Metcalf Ave. Overland Park, KS 66212 (913) 381-3000 Toys for Tot s Sponsor Page 8 of 9
Military Memorabilia (913) 682-3979 413 Delaware Street Leavenworth, KS 66048 M-F 10:00 05:00 Sat 10:00-04:00 Sun Closed Veteran Owned/Operated ERIN CECIL, REALTOR Cell: 913.707.6154 E-Mail: ececil@cbregan.com Fax: 913.631.2904 Website: www.erincecil.cbkc.com Daughter of a Marine REGAN REALTORS 11800 Shawnee Mission Pkwy Shawnee, KS 66203 Gregory A Aldridge Ins. Agency Inc 13501 W 87th Street Pkwy Lenexa, KS 66215-2408 Business: 913-492-6080 greg@gregaldridgesf.com www.gregaldridgesf.com Jacob Nemechek Banking Center Manager jacob.nemechek@bankmw.com 913.998.7340 Office 512.731.0198 Mobile Cole Bonham, Co-Owner Firearm Engraving 7341 W. 97th Street Overland Park, KS 66212 913.754.6574 www.firearmengraving.com Page 9 of 9