Posted on 08/14/2005 5:55:09 AM PDT by kellynla
Newport Beach can attach some numbers now to its appreciation for Marine Corps efforts in Iraq: 235 pounds of chopped beef; 26 pounds each of potato salad, coleslaw and baked beans; 300 Polish hot dogs; 1,300 drinks and 1,600 cookies.
That was the catering list for a picnic Saturday at Camp Pendleton hosted by the city for an infantry battalion recently returned after a deployment to Sri Lanka for tsunami relief and then patrol duty in Iraq. The unit is expected to return to Iraq early next year.
About 800 Marines and their families from the 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division attended. Some single Marines grumbled about the mandatory attendance but agreed the food trumped chow hall offerings. And some went home with one of a truckload of donated raffle prizes: television sets, bicycles, music players and a motorcycle.
Everything was arranged by the 1/1 Association born in Newport Beach, which organized a fundraising dinner last year at the Balboa Bay Club. It "adopted" the Marine battalion, providing trips home for the families of some needy Marines and hosting the big picnic, which cost about $18,000.
"We appreciate what they are doing for us," Cpl. Rueben Botello of Costa Mesa said.
(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...
I hope everyone got to watch "Company of Heroes" which was on Fox News last night. If you didn't you missed one heck of an enlightening program. And maybe Fox will air it again.
It revealed the lives of Marines from India company 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines who were the first Marines to attack Fallujah and some of their families. These folks are proud of their sons and the sacrifices they made for all of us. Now these are majority not the one or two in the minority who are against the war and are complaining.
Semper Fi,
Kelly
Glad you got to watch it.I posted a "heads up" yesterday on the program but didn't get much response.
I've gotten so tired of the media inundation of Sheehan's antiwar protests.
The woman was against the war before her son enlisted now she is smearing his memory with her embarrassing antiwar antics.
Semper Fi,
Kelly
On most Sundays, the Duke would read his paper in his back yard on the bay waving and greeting boaters as they passed.
If Wayne was still with us, he would be at the Bay Club today.
bump
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