Shoreline Marine Corps League
On August 3 our Detachment was asked to assist with honoring some WWII vets. 5 bi-planes did multiple fly overs when the Vets arrived at the Holland Airport. The Vets were then given rides in the open cockpit planes. Over 100 people turned out to assist with this honor.
We held another successful flag posting again today. The flags will remain up until September 12. We will pull them down and audit them then. Good Work Team!
The Detachment provided the meal service for the VFW this past Friday, August 21. We served both Bill’s sloppy joes, and fish. All proceeds went to the operation of the VFW. Excellent work by all!
On July 11 we collected the flags that were placed on 8th Street in downtown Holland. We had placed them there for Flag Day, and left them posted until now to cover the 4th of July. The flags will stay in storage until the Labor Day weekend, when they will again be posted downtown. It is a real honor to be able to do this for the community.
Our Detachment is starting to assist the VFW Honor Guard with ceremonial duties. Today it was Mack MacKellar and Oscar Ledsema. Looking sharp guys!
Have you ever wondered why Tootsie Rolls hold significance with the Marine Corps? During the Korean War, the First Marine Division met the enemy at Chosin Reservoir in subfreezing temperatures. Out of ammunition, Marines called in for 60mm mortar ammo; code name “Tootsie Rolls.” The radio operator did not have the code sheets that would tell him what a “Tootsie Roll” was, but knew the request was urgent; so he called in the order. Soon, pallets of Tootsie Roll candies parachuted from the sky to the First Marine Division! While they were not ammunition, this candy from the sky provided well needed nourishment for the troops. They also learned they could use warmed Tootsie Rolls to plug bullet holes, sealing them as they refroze.
Over two weeks of incessant fighting, the 15,000-man division suffered 3,000 killed in action, 6,000 wounded and thousands of severe frostbite cases. But they accomplished their goal and destroyed several Chinese divisions in the process. Many credited their very survival to Tootsie Rolls.
There has been some discussion around the Cold War Medal / Ribbon. In 1998, Congress directed the Secretary of Defense to establish a certificate to honor United States Armed Forces members as well as eligible civilians who contributed honorably to the Cold War effort between September 2, 1945 and December 26, 1991. Those who received the Cold War Recognition Certificate may wish to accompany it with a medal and ribbon, though as an independently created award it is not eligible for wear on military uniforms. In other words, it is good for the shadowbox, not for the uniform. There are a number of Military Veterans retail sites that sell this medal if you wish to purchase it.
Authorization indicated in SecNav Instruction 1650.1H (see below)
http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/SecNavInst%201650.1H.pdf