Port Washington Marines Blog

Attention on Deck, Marines!

2009-10-24T13:31:00.002-04:00

In recognition of your service to our country, all active duty U.S Military personnel and veterans are invited to eat free at Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar Restaurants this Veterans Day, Wednesday,Nov. 11, 2009.
All you need to do is prove your active duty or veteran status.
Proof of service includes: U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card,U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement, Veterans Organization Card, photograph of yourself in uniform, or actually wearing your uniform.
For additional details, visit: www.applebees.com/vetsday

“THEY CAME IN PEACE” Beirut Memorial Service and Dinner

2009-10-02T12:43:00.001-04:00

Dear Fellow Marines:

October 23rd 2009 is the 26th anniversary of the cowardly terrorist attack on the United States Marines Barracks in Beirut Lebanon that took the lives of 220 Marines and 21 other servicemen . At 0622 hrs. Sunday morning 23 Oct. 1983 a large Mercedes truck charged into the Marine compound at Beirut ‘s airport and crashed into the bottom floor of a four story concrete building where approximately 300 military personnel were quartered . The Kamikaze driver of this truck immediately detonated the vehicles cargo which contained more then 12,000 tons of TNT.
The wonderful people of the Corona , Queens Lions Club were very obliging in fulfilling a request for Memorial dedicated to those Marines and others who sacrificed their lives for us on that terrible day. The members of the Lions Club responded by donating a granite headstone Memorial that has been placed inside the PFC William F. Moore Park on 108th Street and Corona Avenue, Corona Queens NY. ( Pfc. Moore was a Corona native and a US Marine, killed in action at Belleau Wood during WW l. . And so we found it fitting to name our Marine Association after this fine young Marine .
It is that time once again that we gather to remember and reflect on those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives for our country.
We invite you to join with us as we gather for this memorial service on 23 Oct 09 1830 Friday evening in the Pfc William F Moore Park . Immediately following this memorial service we will once again go to the Mess Hall ( Tony’s Restaurant located at 45- 18 104th Street Corona . The cost for the evening chow and refreshments will be $ 40.00 per person . The chow call is not mandatory but if you know you will be attending it would be appreciated if you let us know in advance so we can advise the Mess Sgt.

Semper Fi,

LtCol. Glenn J. Sadowski, President
Cell: 914-843-2983

Jack Casale
Cell: 516-316-2406

October Meeting

2009-10-02T12:37:00.002-04:00

Our detachment's October meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2009. The meeting will be called to order at 8:00 PM. However, the doors to the Elks Lodge (and the bar) open at 7:30. So if you'd like to enjoy some pre-meeting fellowship and perhaps swap a sea story or two over a cocktail, feel free to get there early!
The October edition of "Finnegan's 411 is now posted online. You can access it by clicking on the corresponding link on the left of the home page.

Welcome back from summer!

2009-09-09T11:08:00.003-04:00

Ahoy Marines!
Sadly, summer is drawing to a close but hopefully we'll still enjoy plenty of warm weather.

With the end of summer, we resume our regular monthly meeting schedule. Our next meeting is set for Thursday, September 10, 2009. As always, at the Elks Lodge, 30 Haven St., Port Washington. The meeting is called to order at 8:00PM. However, the doors open at 7:30 PM as does the bar. So if you can, stop by a little early for a drink and some pre-meeting Marine Corps camaraderie.

The September issue of "Finnegan's 411" is out for your reading enjoyment. You can access that issue and previous issues by clicking on the first link in the "Links to the Corps" section on the left of the home page. Check it out!
See you on the 10th, till then, Semper Fidelis!

Happy Independence Day!

2009-07-04T13:15:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday America!

While you're enjoying your BBQ, picnic, ball game, day at the beach or what ever you do to mark this holiday, take a moment and say a prayer of thanks for living in the finest nation on the planet. Take a moment to think of those who conceived the idea of the liberty and freedom and risked everything they had to make the dream a reality. And remember also those who protect that idea for us all.

God Bless America!

Semper Fidelis!

If you've been turned down by the V.A. you should reapply

2009-06-23T13:14:00.000-04:00

VA To Offer Health Care to Previously Ineligible Veterans

WASHINGTON (Jan. 8, 2009) – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced plans to re-open enrollment in its health care system by July 2009 to about 265,000 veterans whose incomes exceed current limits.

“We’re pleased to be able to offer what has been called ‘the best care anywhere’ to many more new veterans,” said Dr. James B. Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “We’ll be able to provide these newly enrolled veterans with the kind of timely, high quality health care veterans who already use our system are accustomed to.”

The change affects veterans whose incomes exceed the current VA means test and geographic means test income thresholds by 10 percent or less. Congress provided funds in VA’s fiscal year 2009 budget to support the new enrollment.

In 1996, Congress established a priority-based enrollment system for VA and a uniform package of medical benefits for all enrollees. The legislation opened enrollment in VA’s health care system to all eligible veterans and required that each year the Secretary of Veterans Affairs assess veterans’ demand for services and determine if the necessary resources are available to provide timely, quality care to all enrollees.

Enrollment for the lowest priority of the eight groups—veterans who are not being compensated for a military-related disability and who have incomes above a set threshold—was suspended on January 18, 2003, although veterans in that priority group who were already enrolled for care were permitted to remain enrolled.

VA originally suspended enrollment for Priority 8 veterans because it was unable to provide all enrolled veterans with timely access to its health care due to a tremendous growth in the number of veterans then seeking enrollment. VA is now plans to reopen enrollment for a portion of these veterans without compromising the Department’s ability to provide high quality health care services to all enrolled veterans who are eligible for care.

VA’s computer systems are being modified to accommodate the changes, and the Department is preparing communication and education materials to ensure that Congress, veterans service organizations, and the public are aware of the coming changes.

“The rule will take effect by June 30, 2009, if the regulatory process proceeds smoothly,” Peake said. “We look forward to welcoming these newly eligible veterans into the VA system. VA will continue to monitor wait times to ensure the quality of care is not adversely affected.”

Rest in Peace Ed McMahon

2009-06-23T13:01:00.003-04:00

TV host Ed McMahon who for 30 years was Johnny Carson's partner on "The Tonight Show" passed away shortly after midnight (L.A. time) today. He was 86 years old. No cause of death was given. But it was noted that he suffered from a "multitude of health problems the last few months".

Born Edward Leo Peter McMahon Jr. on March 6, 1923, in Detroit, McMahon grew up in Lowell, Mass. He got his start on television playing a circus clown on the 1950-51 variety series “Big Top.” But the World War II Marine veteran interrupted his career to serve as a Marine Corps fighter pilot in Korea.
Another Marine reporting sir. I've spent my time in hell.
Semper Fidelis

Take a ride with the Blue Angels!

2009-06-13T15:58:00.003-04:00

If you have a strong constitution or a couple of barf bags handy, click on this link for a terrific 10 minute ride in the cockpit of the #7 jet of the famed U.S.Navy Blue Angels taken during a recent air show at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis MD.
When you get to the video page, click the icon to make the video take up your full screen real estate, then sit back and enjoy the ride!.

Hey Marines!

2009-06-08T14:18:00.002-04:00

If you've been looking for somewhere to obtain your dress blue trousers, NCO's trouser stripe and short sleeve uniform shirts, your search is over!
The Camp Lejeune Uniform Sales Shop has what you're looking for.
Call 1 (888) 267-3559 (Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM). Identify yourself as a former Marine and they will fill your order. They can handle all transactions over the phone as long as you have a valid credit card. Dress Blue Trousers cost $31.75, Short Sleeve Uniform Shirts cost $19.65 and the NCO Trouser Stripe costs $2.85. Shipping costs are extra.
The detachment gets several requests for Color Guards throughout the year and for quite a while the same detachment members have been carrying the weight of those Color Guards. We need more members to step up and volunteer for these Color Guard requests. So if it's within your means, why not order these uniform items so you can help out when the need arises. It's yet another way you can support your detachment!

June News and Info update

2009-06-04T15:43:00.003-04:00

The detachment's newsletter "Finnegan's 411" for June 2009 has been published. You can download a copy here
There are a few events on the horizon concerning the detachment, which you're going to want to know about. Not the least of which is our next meeting June 11, 2009 at 8:00PM. This will be our last meeting until September. As such and as we've done in the past, we will be providing food (assorted sandwiches and salads) from Dominic's deli and there will be an open bar after the meeting! So come hungry and thirsty! We'll be discussing upcoming events that we've planned which will take place over the summer. So be sure to be there.

Feel free to bring your spouse or significant other with you to this meeting. It gives them an opportunity to see a little of what goes on at our meetings and it gives the detachment a chance to say “thank you” to them for their continued support of and assistance to the detachment in all our events and activities. By all means, if you have friends who are former Marines who may have expressed an interest in the League, bring them as well!

2009-05-28T13:42:00.008-04:00

Well, as was mentioned earlier, the detachment participated in the Port Washington Memorial Day Parade. The pictures are now online. These 2 are a sample for your viewing pleasure. Click on each picture and a larger version will open in your browser. You can view the rest of them here .

Our Color Guard members are (from L to R) Chris Sacoccia, Mike Kummer, Rudy Jonak and John Bauman.

Mike and Chris also represented The Corps as members of the Honor Guard, which presented a 21 gun salute to our fallen Service Men and Women at the end of the day's ceremony.

Well done and Bravo Zulu Marines!

A busy Memorial Day weekend and more changes to the blog's layout

2009-05-27T12:14:00.005-04:00

This past weekend was Memorial Day Weekend and it was filled with various activities, parades, Marine Corps displays and demos and Memorial services to honor those veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our American way of life. Pictures and descriptions of some of those activities will follow soon.

If this is your first visit to this blog, you won't notice the layout changes that have been made. However if you've been here before, you will notice things have been moved around a bit. Hopefully the changes will make the blog easier to navigate and enjoy. If there's anything you want to see here, contact us and let us know!

More work on the blog

2009-05-22T16:04:00.015-04:00

Still experimenting and playing around with the various gadgets available on the blog. As you can see up top we've now got a clock telling time in N.Y. where this blog originates, and Iraq and Afghanistan where our Marines and other Service members are doing what they do best; defending our nation and safeguarding our way of life. On the right, below the Links to the Corps are links to various Marine Corps related videos. Simply place your cursor over any of the videos, click the video and it will show right over the blog page. Click on the video screen which pops up and you'll be redirected to YouTube where you can view a larger screen version of the video.
There is also now a link to our detachment's newsletter. Click on the link and it will bring you to our detachment's web site page where you can view and download the last several issues of "Finnegan's 411"
Semper Fidelis!
USMC7585@gmail.com

Meet Finnegan, our mascot

2009-05-21T16:12:00.009-04:00

Say hello to Finnegan! Finn is a 4 year old English Bulldog. He was appointed as the Port Washington detachment's mascot at a small ceremony during our meeting on Nov 10, 2005. Appropriate that he was appointed on the Marine Corps Birthday, no? Knowing that the English Bulldog is the official mascot of the United States Marine Corps, Finn takes his job seriously. As you can see from his picture, he wears his uniform proudly. Click on each picture and a larger version will open in your browser.
Finn spends the majority of his day relaxing although he has been known to exhibit brief spurts of energy when all he wants to do is chase his favorite ball around the back yard. Otherwise he prefers more sedentary pursuits such as sitting at someone's feet being petted or being fed a tasty treat. He is an attention hound not at all happy when he's not the center of attention.
Finn eats twice a day and no doubt dreams of eating during his many daytime naps.

Day One 5/21/09

2009-05-21T14:27:00.013-04:00

Welcome to the new Port Washington, N.Y. Marine Corps League blog!
The purpose of this blog is to increase awareness of the Marine Corps League in general and more specifically the Port Washington Detachment.

The Port Washington, N.Y. Detachment of the Marine Corps League (#614), was chartered on 7 February 1986.We are a group of active duty, reserve and former United States Marines (and U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsmen who served in Marine Corps FMF units). Our purpose? "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, as well as providing camaraderie and assistance to Marines, as well as to their widows and orphans".

We count among our members, Marine Corps veterans of Pelelui, Iwo, and Okinawa, the Korean War, Viet Nam, Operation Iraqi Freedom and every other "clime and place where we could take a gun." Our membership boasts officers and enlisted, grunts, air wingers, supply personnel, administrators and Marines from every other MOS of the Corps. Our common bond is that we are Marines!

We meet the second Thursday of each month during the months September through June, at 2000 hrs (8:00 PM for those of you who forgot how to tell military time) at the BPO Elks Lodge at 30 Haven Ave. Port Washington, N.Y 11050

If you're presently serving either in the active Marine Corps, the reserves or you're an honorably discharged former Marine or FMF Corpsman looking to connect with other Marines to rekindle that special "Esprit de Corps" that only Marines can share, if you like to swap sea stories, share memories, if you want to reconnect to old friends or make some new friends, we invite you to join us!

You can learn more about us; who we are and what we do here
Contact us at USMC7585@gmail.com