From the halls of Montezuma …

 

story and photos by Joel Rafkin
[email protected]

About 75 former and current Marines and their guests celebrated the 235th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps at VFW Post 8845 on Saturday, Nov. 6.

Although the actual birthday of the Marine Corps is on Nov. 10, the celebration, or ball, is held on an adjacent weekend here in the River Valley. Some Marine Corps Leagues adhere to the actual date and celebrate on the 10th said Cpl. Claudia Rucchio, former Marine and River Valley Marine Corps League newsletter editor.

The annual ball featured a silent auction of Marine items, entertainment by disc jockey and singer Lasa Robinson, door prizes and a meal prepared by the River Valley Veterans National Cemetery Association. Tickets were $25 per person or $40 per couple. Proceeds from the event enable the MCL to purchase and maintain items such as its rifles and bugle that are used in honor guard activities.

The River Valley Detachment #1248 of the Marine Corps League bridges the gap between older and younger Marines. In addition to the esprit de corps, the group also organizes the annual Toys for Tots drive and performs honor guard functions.

"The ball is the time of the year that we say this is the Marine Corps birthday. We are so proud of being Marines and we have been Marines for 235 years. This outstanding organization has managed and we have been the toughest and the meanest and whatever kind of thing that we like to say we are and it’s our time to honor that and it’s our time to pass that tradition from those older Marines down to the younger Marines and say this is what we do,” Rucchio said.