Picture at top of page

Picture at top of page
In 1945, Marines persevered to victory in the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

 We welcome your interest in membership.  More information on the Marine Corps League and the Metrowest  Detachment #1037 can be found here Membership Information


Sponsorship and advertising opportunities available:

The 20th Annual Metrowest Marine Corps League Gold Tournament will be held on 16 August at Juniper Hill Golf Club in Northborough.  Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available for businesses and individual who would like to support our charitable outreach.  This is our primary fundraiser and enables our scholarships, donations to the Young Marines, VA Bingo, and community assistance.  The form for advertisers and sponsors is hereAdvertising form


June Meeting Notes:


    The meeting was convened at 7:00 PM as scheduled on 15 June with 12 members in attendance.  Roll call of Officers was conducted with all present except for Chaplain Whelan who was excused.

    Jack Gunning was sworn in as a new member.  Jack served with B/1/9 in Viet Nam in 1967-1968.  This unit is renown for having faced some of the toughest combat during the war, including the Battle of Khe Sanh.  Jack related some of his experiences both overseas and at home.  We welcome JAck to the detachment.

    MA State Commandant P.J. Herbert attended as a guest.  He expressed that he wants to assure members that he value the activities and participation at the detachment level as that is central to the MCL.  We appreciate P.J. attending and recognize that he travelled a long distance to get here.

    The minutes of the last meeting were accepted as posted in a motion by Jerry Blanchette and seconded by Dave Gentes.  The Paymaster report was presented by Jerry Blanchette with the detachment being in good financial shape. A motion to accept the report as read was made by Dave Gentes and seconded by Glenn Chambliss. This motion was passed by vote.

    Jim Hastings provided an update on the continued planning for the golf tournament.  Brochures and advertising order forms were made available to all with encouragement to solicit players and ads.

    The detachment will provide food for 25th Marines Warrior Night at Fort Devens on 17 June.  Jim Hastings has arranged for pork sandwiches hamburgers and other food for the anticipated 600 Marines.

    The detachment will recognize 6 Eagle Scouts in Bellingham in coordination with the MA Department.  Scouts will receive a certificate and a $100 check.
  
    John McEntegart, Warren Griffin, and Jim Hastings conducted the MCL ROse program, raising a total of $2520.  This is an easy fundraiser that will benefit from wider participation.

    It is hoped that VA Bingo will be able to resume soon.  This has been shut down due to COVID.

The names of 64 members who have passed away since the detachment started were read by the Commandant.  The meeting was adjourned at 7:35.

There will be no meetings in July and August. See you in September!

The Commandant's Newsletter for June:

    On Saturday, 6 June,  Commandant McEntegart, Jr. Vice Hastings, and Adjutant Griffin represented the detachment at the MA State MCL Convention in Hyannis.  This year was a combined convention with the New England Division which brought members in from the entire region.  Attendees came from a few miles south of the Canadian border to the border of New York in Southern New England.
    The wider range of attendees created the opportunity more contacts and exchanges of information.  New ideas for recruitment and member retention were discussed and there will be opportunity to apply some of these ideas.  There is energy building to increase membership and to find ways to engage younger Marines.
    P. J. Herbert was elected as the MA State Commandant.  P.J. is a veteran of the Iraq incursion and brings the perspective of that era.  He has a lot of ideas that should help with growing the League. We welcome the opportunity to work with P.J.. 
    Detachment member Paul Carew was awarded the Legion of Honor Bronze Medallion in recognition of his contributions to the veterans of the Metrowest area.  We congratulate Paul and thank him for all that he does.  The MA State Marine of the Year is Ed Aucoin of the Shutt Detachment.  Ed is a Framingham native and 20 year veteran of the Marine Corps who served in Viet Nam.  Ed retired as a Master Sergeant.
    The detachment Golf Tournament is scheduled for 16 August.  Members are encouraged to solicit advertising and raffle prizes.  This is a big undertaking and our primary fundraiser so any help that you can provide will be appreciated.
    The MCL will offer a Burger Burn at Fort Devens for the 25th Marines on 17 June.  This will start at 1:00 PM and help is always needed.  Contact Jim Hastings for complete details.
    There are no meetings during the summer.  We will return to live meetings in September. In the meantime, stay healthy and enjoy the summer.

Semper Fi,
Mac