The next meeting of the Patriot Detachment will be on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at 19:30 hours (7:30pm). Agenda includes installation of Officers for 2010-11.

http://media.causes.com/576542? Thank a Soldier Video.  Be sure to watch the Marine interface with the little girl. at the 2 minute, 25 second mark.

A thanks to all those who give http://www.nragive.com/ringoffreedom/nr_j0199_landing.html

May our Chevrons always point up www.jensensutta.com/slideshows/RTB/

New PA License Plates to Honor Military Service

Honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces have a new way to proudly display their service as PennDOT announced the availability of a new series of military license plates honoring veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.  The new plates feature the standard Pennsylvania license plate colors of blue, white and yellow along with the applicable branch of service emblem or logo on the left side of the plate. Pennsylvania is printed at the top of the plate, with the name of the applicable branch of service at the bottom.  To obtain one of these plates, honorably discharged veterans must complete and mail Form MV-150, Application for U.S. Military Veteran Registration Plate, to PennDOT and include a certified copy of their DD-214, along with a $20 fee. 

12/3/09 FW: Marine Corps League 2009 Convention Issue

Marines, I received this from the National Executive Director.  The National Commandant has asked for broad distribution.  Please get this out to your detachments.  Web Team can we please get this posted on the site ASAP?  PR team can we get something out to our Facebook “fans” to check the Department website for a message from the National Commandant? Thank you all for your help with this. 

Leanna  

From: Executive Director [mailto:MBlum@MCLeague.org]
Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 9:25 PM
To: Executive Director
Subject: Marine Corps League 2009 Convention Issue: Board of Trustees, PNC’s and Department Commandants – 

The National Commandant has asked that I forward the following letter from him to our e-mail list.  He asked that you please get it down to your Detachments and all concerned.

The message is clear – it is time to stop all the anger and gnashing of teeth.  Working to create divides in the organization is counter-productive.  This issue will be properly addressed at the National Convention in North Carolina and no amount of kicking and screaming is going to make it happen sooner.  If everyone would just tone down the rhetoric, this can be resolved in a calm and adult like manner then. 

Marine Corps League Members and Board of Trustees -

I have reviewed once again, the National Bylaws as they relate to the issue of Khaki shirts that was brought up on the floor at National Convention.  I have read and concur with the National JA John Kovalcik’s interpretation of the intent of our Bylaws.  Both Gerry Devlin, the National Parliamentarian, and John have pointed out numerous times in "Roberts Rule of Order Revised", that say that if a mistake was made at Convention, then a “point of order” must be raised at that time and not after the Convention has closed.   

JA Kovalcik clarifies this point in his statement, "Normally a point of order must only be raised at the time of the alleged breach of order.  Failing to raise a point of order usually waives any right to object.  There is an exception, which may have confused some.  If the question that a proposed action violates the constitution or bylaw it may be raised at any time (section 21 Roberts Rules of Order Revised) this means that it may be raised at any time during the Convention not three months later. When a convention adjourns Sine Die (the final adjournment as opposed to a day to day recess or adjournment) it carries with it all pending business Section 18 Roberts Rules of Order.  There is no Parliamentary way for the will of the convention to be modified once the final gavel has fallen."  In other words, once the Convention is CLOSED, it would be illegal in accordance with "Roberts Rules" to disregard the will of the “body” (that being the properly elected, registered, and approved Delegates in good standing, on the floor), and alter a proposed Bylaw change or amendment thereto.  More importantly, perhaps is the fact that it would do a great disservice to those who attended and participated as Registered Delegates and voted their will, at the National Convention.  I would re-iterate here, that this amendment did not originate with the National Board of Trustees, or Marine Corps League National Headquarters.  It in fact came from the floor and was approved on the floor.   

In reading National Bylaws, Article 100 the intent clearly vests the supreme legislative and policy making power of the Marine Corps League in the National Convention composed of the properly elected, registered and approved Delegates in good standing.    The confusion I see between Article 100 and Article 800 of the bylaws involves the implied intent of the delegates’ authority at a convention to make Marine Corps League policy.  While Article 100 gives the supreme authority to the delegates at a convention to make policy, Article 800 CH4-95 appears to want to restrict that authority of the delegates to only those bylaw changes submitted for revision, amendment or repeal that were properly submitted to National Headquarters prior to April 1st.  

If the current approved amendment on the issue of Khaki shirts were to be changed it would devastate the power of the aforementioned Convention Delegates to act as a body and conduct League business and it would force the will of a relative few members who “after the fact”, disagree with the ruling.  This is why a challenge must be brought during the Convention.  That would allow those same delegates to debate the validity of the challenge.  NJA Kovalcik is correct when he says that “Red Hats Rule”.   As your National Commandant I believe in the power of the properly elected, registered, and approved Delegates in good standing to dictate to the duly elected National Officers, the direction of the Marine Corps League and as such, approve or disapprove all amendments brought before the floor of a National Convention.  In this context the “National Registered Delegates, present at Convention, rule”.  To now remove the rights of the majority of the delegates to decide an issue would be a monumental blow to the rights of the membership to decide any question.  Marines, remember it was the majority of the delegates on the convention floor who overwhelming approved the removal of the Khaki shirt from our dress code. 

 With that being said; I have suggested to the National Judge Advocate that Article 800 should be closely reviewed and consideration given to restating that portion of the Article that might be confusing.  It is important to restore the intent of Article 100.  The delegates at a National Convention must be able to conduct business and shape Marine Corps League policy, without the interference of a few.  This should curtail further problems dealing with all business conducted at the National Convention.   

Semper Fidelis  

James R. Laskey

For a slide show musical presentation of the Northampton Township Patriot Flag Program where they pay tribute to its resident soldiers fighting in Iraqi, Afghanistan and other hostile areas and for which our Detachment has assisted on occasion click on the following link http://animoto.com/play/UxmTTYgLi6ezdV5EDghdXg

 NATIONAL PURPLE HEART HALL OF HONOR

1.     A National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is being built in New York’s Hudson Valley, not far from the United States Military Academy at West Point.  Any service member who has been awarded the Purple Heart is eligible to be entered in the Hall’s database as part of the tribute to their service to our Nation.

2.     Any service member who has earned the award will be afforded a place in the Hall.  The service member needs to send a copy of their DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which indicates receipt of the award, to the address below:

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, Post Office Box 207, Vails Gate, New York 12584-0207

3.     This initiative should be given widest dissemination possible to our service members, who have made this sacrifice, so that they may participate in this worthwhile tribute, if they so desire.

Tony Derago Passes On

Detachment Presented With Charter By MCL Officials

Southeast Division Meeting To Be Held April 30, 2006

Military Reunions - 2nd Marine Division

2006 Dept. of Pennsylvania Marine Corps League Convention

2006 National Convention Starts August 6th

League members show support for Northampton residents Marine PFC's Matt Devlin and Michael Potts serving in Iraq.

Our newly chartered Marine Corps League Patriot Detachment #1230 led by Commandant Art Ruth and the VFW District 8 Commander Jay Gotchall attended the March 8, 2006 Northampton Township Board of Supervisors meeting to honor Marine PFC Matt Devlin.  Then on March 22nd they assisted in honoring Marine PFC Michael Potts.  The Township, led by Supervisor and Detachment member Pete Palestina, instituted a flag ceremony back in April, 2003 whereby any resident serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom is presented with a military flag bearing his or her name on a yellow streamer affixed to it.  The flag is presented to a loved one who then places the flag in a presentation case display in the Township Public Meeting Board Room.  Once the vet returns from Iraq to the Township another public presentation is made whereby the military flag is returned to the person it represented and an American flag is then placed in the display to replace the military flag.  Thus far there are 36 known Northampton vets serving of which 20 have returned safe and sound from their tour of duty in Iraq.  Of the 36, 11 are in the Marine Corps.  If you know of a Northampton resident that is serving in Iraq and has not had a flag placed on their behalf contact Pete Palestina at 215-364-3000 or email him at peteypal@aol.com

Shown in the photo are (L-R) Northampton Supervisor George Komelasky, VFW Dist. 8 Commander Jay Gotchall, Supervisor Pete Palestina (holding flag) Alice & Jim  Devlin, parents of PFC Devlin, MCL Patriot Detachment Commandant Art Ruth, John Clark, Bob Hood and Henry Apice. This photo was taken at the 3/8/06 presentation.

The below photo was taken at the 3/22/06 presentation to mother of Mike Potts.