Semper Fi: Marines celebrate proud heritage

Sparta - Marines gathered Nov. 10 at Perona Farms for the annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball. Each year on Nov. 10, Marines gather to celebrate the birth of their beloved Corps. Even Marines in combat situations take a moment to remember this important occasion. In an elegant restaurant, the toast is offered from a glass of champagne, while on the battlefield, it may merely be the tip of a canteen. It was after the Second Continental Congress voted to enlist two battalions of Marines in 1775, that Samuel Nicholas was commissioned Captain of Marines. Captain Nicholas recruited the first Marines at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia. Soon afterward, Marines were engaged in combat in the Revolutionary war. Marines fought with General George Washington at the battle of Trenton. The 231st Marine Corps Birthday Ball was held in Sparta. This is an annual event of the Sussex County Marine Corps League, Detachment 747. The Marine Corps League is an international brotherhood of Marine veterans and Marines presently serving on active duty. U.S. Navy medical corpsmen who served with Marines in the Fleet Marine Force are also considered full members. The purpose of the Marine Corps League is to promote the history and tradition of the Corps. As active duty Marines, the members served to protect our country and as Marines no longer on active duty, they now serve the community. The membership of more than 200 in the Sussex County detachment represents veterans from all wars WWII through Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Detachment 747 is named after a young Marine, PFC Jeffery S. Patterson who was from Sparta. PFC Patterson lost his life in Vietnam after he tripped an explosive device while walking the point on a patrol mission to seek out the enemy. Detachment 747 is known as the PFC Jeffery S. Patterson detachment. The detachment is a non profit organization. No member receives pay or compensation of any kind for their community participation. All efforts and hard work by members are strictly voluntary. Donations and fundraisers provide such things as scholarships for children and grandchildren of the members and financial and psychological help for Marines and their families who are in distress due to illness or hardship. The detachment holds two blood drives every year and works with the Marine Corps Reserves in the Toys For Tots program. They march in parades and provide grave side funeral services including the rifle salute for deceased veterans of all branches of service. “Semper Fi” is short for the Marines motto, “Semper Fidelis” which means “Always Faithful”. The Semper Fi Fund is a non profit group, endorsed by President Bush. This provides funds to pay for food and lodging of Marine families who travel from all over the country to visit their Marine who was wounded and is receiving rehabilitative care at military hospitals. This provides a great uplift of the spirit of the wounded Marine. Any one wishing to donate to the Semper Fi Fund may do so by sending it to the Semper Fi Fund, Detachment 747, P.O. Box 688, Sparta, NJ 07871. More photos on page 36.