spokane marine corps league melvin m. smith detachment...

EDITOR: ERIC YURCISIN COMMANDANT: JIM BROWN

Spokane Marine Corps League Melvin M. Smith Detachment #586

October/November/December 2016 Volume I, Issue II

DETACHMENT DIGEST

DETACHMENT

OFFICERS

COMMANDANT

JIM BROWN 559-3456

SR VICE-COMMANDANT

PAT ROWAND 590-7547

JR VICE-COMMANDANT

TIM KRUSE 701-2963

CHAPLAIN

P. BILL TOWN 489-8407

JUDGE ADVOCATE

DENNIS DRESSLER 953-6266

JR PAST COMMANDANT

T J MORGAN 979-7688

PAYMASTER

JIM STAILEY, JR 475-9012

ADJUTANT

BRYAN SMITH 487-8357

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS

MANNY ESPARZA 328-7257

AUXILLARY PRESIDENT

VICKIE BROWN 879-6087

NEWSLETTER EDITOR

ERIC YURCISIN 993-8056

COMMANDANT’S CORNER

Leaguers, Associates, and Auxiliary,

As we enter into this busy time of year, I want to ask all of you to do

several things. The first, and foremost, is to take time to take care of

yourself! It does no one anyone any good to work yourself to death with

all the good things we are doing, if the ultimate result is ending up

hurting yourself to the point that you can not function.

Second, while we are busy, I want to remind all of us to be on the con-

stant lookout for new members! I have run into a fair amount of Ma-

rines who are not members of our detachment in the last few months.

Third and final thing… Toys 4 Tots is getting ready to gear up! The

Marines and our detachment will be very busy this year with Toys 4

Tots. There will be plenty of opportunity to volunteer and help with

this program!

Semper Fi

Jim Brown, Commandant

Commandant’s Corner 1

President’s Passdown, 2 Truths and a Lie Revealed 2

Membership, Down From Division 3

A Plain Pine Casket 4

586 at the National Convention 5

Calendars (Oct, Nov, Dec) 6-8

Committee Chairs & Points of Contact 9

Inside this issue:

DETACHMENT Digest

THE PRESIDENT’S PASSDOWN

Melvin M Smith Unit Auxiliary, I hope everyone enjoyed their summer and now the first breaths of fall. The Auxiliary had a busy summer, as usual, with convention (both Department and National), coffee stops, Hoopfest and break-fasts every month. We ended our summer run with the annual bar-b-que. We tried something new by having Uncle Leroy’s cater (moving cost to $10 instead of bringing food). We had a good time and we will revisit probably in the spring to plan next year’s gathering. This year’s Department convention in Yakima found Linda Shurtleff running our Flea Scratch we helped in Devil Dog festivities and even had a few of the Melvin M Smith ladies initiated into the Fleas. Trish Jones got the most donations for our charity…. CONGRATS Trish. A good time was had by all I hope. Our new Department President – Susan Douglas is a Melvin M Smith Auxiliary Member – Congratulations Sue. This fall we are participating with the Trunk or Treat event with Spokane Young Marines along with the normal events of breakfasts, spaghetti feed for Toys 4 Tots, Toys 4 Tots and Christmas support of our veterans at the VA Hospital. The Department Auxiliary will be selling a collaborative cook book for our fundraising project this year so PLEASE keep us in mind as you fill your Christmas giving. We are going to be working on membership through the winter and into spring so if you know any ladies that are related to a Marine (come on aren’t we all) we would love to have them come and see if they like our group. Our next big event will be to assist with the Spaghetti dinner in December and we are encouraging all of our folks to help at Toys for Tots. Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday Season from the Auxiliary. Vickie Brown, President

2 TRUTHS AND A LIE REVEALED

Jim Brown, Commandant

Was able to run a 1st class PFT but never could get

the run fast enough to run a perfect 300.

Pat Rowand, Sr Vice Commandant

“I never met Bob Hope”

Tim Kruse, Jr Vice Commandant

The proud recipient of 1 Navy Commendation not 2

P. Bill Town, Chaplain

Has been the Chaplain for near 30 years now not quite

35+ years… , yet.

Manny Esparza, Sergeant-At-Arms

There is NEVER a time when I stop calling you Mis-

ter, no matter how long I know you

Bryan Smith, Adjutant

I had a qualifying time but I missed the deadline by 2

days to be considered for the Olympic Trials.

Eric Yurcisin, Newsletter Editor

I am the 3rd oldest of 10 siblings, not 9.

Jim Stailey, Paymaster

The “B” rated movie… The story is true but the

speaking part is a lie.

Volume I, Issue II

MACRO—MARINE CORPS LEAGUE NEWS

DOWN FROM DIVISION

OooRah fellow Marines!, I was asked by our newsletter Chairman, to contribute to the Newsletter. So as many of you know (or don’t) I am the Department of Washington’s Jr Vice Commandant and this August in Tulsa, I was elected and Install as the National Vice Commandant for the NW Division. What a great honor. Let me put on my Department hat and tell you we are moving forward with a new Department Commandant, Jim Renton. The yearly convention was in Yakima this year and there will be 2 co-detachments on the west side and our very own MMS detachment will submit bids for the 2017 convention. I encourage each and every one of you to attend a convention or for that fact, come to the fall or spring staff meeting and see what’s going on in the Department. Now I’ll put on the National hat. We are hard at work for you! At division, we are more administrative than anything else. We push stuff to the Department Commandants that we get from HQ and in turn they push it to the Detachment Commandants for dispersal to you the member. This process works in reverse when you are communicating to us. I challenge each of you to follow your chain of command, Detachment to Department to Division to National HQ’s Remember, we are a VSO but in order to fund what we do, we are a business. We must take care of the heath of the MCL above all else. What happened in the past is just that, the past. In saying that we have made some, what I consider, good business moves. HQ is moving. We have rented our old brick and mortar building and are going to Quantico. Just 4 miles out the gate and along the Jefferson Davis Hwy. We will be very visible to the Marines heading to the base. Next we have PLM distributions. Please have the PLM audits in by the end of the year so you can get your distributions. On that note the distributions have been adjusted per our bylaws. It appears that the old way was not according to the formula. We now will take a running 3 year average of our Morgan Stanley account and distribute 4.5% of that profit. The reason we took a three year average is some-times you have good years and some are down. Lastly, let me tell you we have changed the way we do the membership dues, we have moved to August 31 as everyone’s expiration and renewal date. If you have an anniversary September to the end of December the Na-tional dues are $20.00. If your anniversary date is from 1 January to the end of June it is pro-rated to $10.00. That will get you current for 2017. You may renew anytime from September 1 and prior to 31 August 2018 to be current. All new membership cards will show September 1 as a renewal date. I can explain this and more in the next Meeting. TJ Morgan NVC NW Division Department of Washington Jr Vice.

MMS MEMBERSHIP

Total Members 134

Life Members 64

DETACHMENT Digest

A PLAIN PINE CASKET

On September 9th, 2016........ The Melvin M. Smith Detachment Honor Guard was called upon to go to the Washington States Veteran’s Cemetery. Mike O'Flaherty, Jim Brown, Walt Lindgren, Hank Melanson, Bill Town & Mikie Taylor answered the call and embarked on the, all too familiar, trip to assist in the final honors of another veteran. There was a Marine service at 11:15 and before that there was a late addition to the service roster, a 10:30 ser-vice for Navy AD1 (Aviation Machinist Mate) Judith B. (let's just use her first name with no disrespect intended and security). Judith was born July 1944 and passed August 2016. As we were lining up to march out and render rifle honors, I realized that there were no cars down in the family waiting area. Scanning the surroundings, there was no family in the chapel. A solitary casket built of plain white pine and draped with a flag was the extent of those present for Judith’s final journey. Judith’s niece would have been the sole attendant, but she was out-of-state and unable to attend What happened next really struck a chord with me. Although no immediate family members were present there were representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines in attendance. We did the military honors, a prayer, flag folding (presented to the Army representative), and rifle salute. Taps then played for AD1 Judith. As we marched off the line the MMS MCL HG members decided to be the pall bearers for AD1 Judith as she was laid to rest and I thought of this… Alone You know it's true what they say, everybody dies alone. Sure... everyone dies alone, but if you mean something to someone, if you help someone, or love someone, if even a single person remembers you....... Then maybe........ you never really die at all. Maybe the plain pine casket was not so plain after all. AD1 Judith B. you were not alone... Rest In Peace and Comfort and know that you are not forgotten, I for one will always remember you and you were not alone. See you at heaven's gate. Thank you for who you were and what you did and your service to our country and citizens. Semper Fi Honor Guard Commander Mike Taylor

Dearest of Souls, You have no idea how much this means to me. My Aunt Judy was an quick-witted woman with a fierce inde-pendent streak. She did not hold too many people close in her confidences. I being one of the few felt a huge amount of guilt for not being able to attend her funeral. Knowing that there were brave men who donated their time to put her to rest comforts me. Knowing that you cared enough to share with me what happened in my ab-sence warms me. I have no words to express how much this means to me. As I sit here with tears in my eyes I am overwhelmed with emotions. I cannot say enough thank you’s. You have restored in me a hope that humanity is still real in this troubling world we live in. Again thank you for sharing this with me. Sincerely Yours,

Amanda

Volume I, Issue II

586 AT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

37th Commandant of the Marine Corps General Robert Neller

18th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Ronald Green

Melvin M Smith Detachment Commandant, Jim Brown & Auxiliary Unit President ,Vickie Brown

National Vice Commandant for the NW Division, Department of Washington’s Jr Vice Commandant, TJ Morgan with Major General Michael Regner

Funny Stuff

DETACHMENT Digest

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10

VFW House Meeting

11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

YM Marines Ball

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

YM Fundraiser

30 31

October 2016

6th— Veteran’s Court (National Guard Readiness Center, Rebecca Street) (POC Mike O’Flaherty) 8th— Breakfast with the Marines (VFW 1435) (POC Bill Bean) 10th— VFW House Meeting (VFW 1435) (POC Jim & Vickie Brown) 11th— BBQ (Spokane VAMC CLC) (POC Mike O’Flaherty) 12th— Bingo (Spokane VAMC CLC) (POC Mike O’Flaherty) 13th— MCL/MCLA Regular Business Meeting (VFW 1435, 7pm) 15th— MODD Jim Chamberlin Growl (Das Stien Haus, 9am-11am) (POC PDD Randy Ott) 20th— Veteran’s Court (National Guard Readiness Center, Rebecca Street) (POC Mike O’Flaherty) 22nd— Young Marines Ball (POC Trish & Jeremy Jones) 29th— Young Marines Fundraiser (POC Trish & Jeremy Jones)

We’re on the World Wide Web!!

mclspokane.org

Volume I, Issue II


1 2 3 4 5

Birthday Ball

6 7 8 9 10

Happy Birthday 11

12

13 14

VFW House Meeting

15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30

November 2016

3rd– Veteran’s Court (National Guard Readiness Center, Rebecca Street) (POC Mike O’Flaherty) 4th thru 6th— Gun Show (POC Alvin Parker)

5th— Marine Corps Ball with Battery (1700 at the Double Tree by Hilton Spokane City Center please RSVP and see flyer for additional details) 8th— BBQ (Spokane VAMC CLC) (POC Mike O’Flaherty) 9th— Bingo (Spokane VAMC CLC) (POC Mike O’Flaherty) 10th— MCL/MCLA Regular Business Meeting Happy 241st Birthday Marines (VFW 1435, 7pm) 12th— Breakfast with the Marines (VFW 1435) (POC Bill Bean) 14th— VFW House Meeting (VFW 1435) (POC Jim & Vickie Brown) 17th— Veteran’s Court (National Guard Readiness Center, Rebecca Street) (POC Mike O’Flaherty)

DETACHMENT Digest


1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12

VFW House Meeting

13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

December 2016

1st– Veteran’s Court (National Guard Readiness Center, Rebecca Street) (POC Mike O’Flaherty) 3rd thru 4th— Gun Show (POC Alvin Parker) 8th— MCL/MCLA Regular Business Meeting (VFW 1435, 7pm) 9th— Spaghetti Dinner (TBD) (POC Bryan Smith) 10th— Breakfast with the Marines (VFW 1435) (POC Bill Bean) 12th— VFW House Meeting (VFW 1435) (POC Jim & Vickie Brown)

13th— BBQ (Spokane VAMC CLC) (POC Mike O’Flaherty) 14th— Bingo (Spokane VAMC CLC) (POC Mike O’Flaherty) 15th— Veteran’s Court (National Guard Readiness Center, Rebecca Street) (POC Mike O’Flaherty)

Volume I, Issue II

Gun Show/Rifle Raffle Alvin Parker 290-2625 [email protected]

MCL Auxiliary Vickie Brown 879-6087 [email protected]

MCL Honor Guard & MCL Awards Mikie Taylor 993-7588 [email protected]

MCL Spokane Website & Veteran’s Day Jim Brown 599-3456 [email protected]

Marine of the Year Society TJ Morgan 979-7688 [email protected]

Memorial Day Ceremony & Spaghetti Dinner/Auction Bryan Smith 487-8357 [email protected]

Americanism Louise Griffith 487-1623 [email protected]

Awards, Boy Scouts of America & Calling Tree Randy Ott 998-9031 [email protected]

Breakfast, Lilac Day Parade Bill Bean 924-9215 [email protected]

ByLaw Review Dennis Dressler 953-6266 [email protected] Coffee Stops Doug Shurtleff 328-5837 [email protected]

Homeless Veterans Hank Melanson 385-2726 [email protected]

Hoopfest Manuel “Manny” Esparza 328-7257 [email protected]

Newsletter Eric “Stitch” Yurcisin 993-8056 [email protected]

Planning Committee Jim Brown & Vickie Brown (see other listings for contact infor-mation)

Recruitment Tim Kruse 701-2963 [email protected]

Spokane County Young Marines Jeremy Jones (760)453-4966 [email protected]

Toys 4 Tots Patrick “Pat” Rowand 590-7547 [email protected]

VSVO & Veteran’s Court Mike O’Flaherty 484-6834 [email protected]

Committee Chairs & Points of Contact

ATTENTION ALL LEAGUE MEMBERS: It is getting that time of year to start thinking about TOYS FOR TOTS. I would like to see more volunteers at the warehouse this year. I will get the word out as to when and where as soon as I get it from the battery and SSgt Curry. I am still moving forward with the books for tots program and will be needing help come NOVEMBER and DECEMBER. Remember we have the sleigh to use for any T4T functions, as appropriate. SEMPER FI Your Sr Vice Commandant Pat Rowand.

**Volunteers Needed** (POC Pat Rowand)

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Editor and Chief:

Eric Yurcisin

Marine Corps League

PO Box 13682

Spokane Valley, WA 99213-5301

Melvin M. Smith Detachment #586

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