ABOUT THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE AND THE OUTER BANKS DETACHMENT
The Marine Corps League perpetuates the traditions and spirit of all Marines and Navy Fleet Marine Force (FMF) Corpsmen, who proudly wear or who have worn the eagle, globe and anchor of the Corps. Founded in 1923 by World War I hero, then Major General Commandant John A. Lejeune, it takes equal pride in its Federal Charter approved by an Act of the Seventy-Fifth Congress of the United States of America and signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on 4 August 1937. The League is the only Federally Chartered Marine Corps-related veterans organization in the country. Since its earliest days, the Marine Corps League has enjoyed the support and encouragement of the active duty and reserve establishments of the United States Marine Corps. Today, the League boasts a membership of nearly 76,000 men and women, officer and enlisted, active duty and reserve Marines, honorably discharged Marine Veterans and qualified Navy FMF Corpsmen. The Marine Corps League is one of the few Veterans Organizations that experiences continual increases in its membership each year. The Marine Corps League is headed by an elected National Commandant, with 14 elected National Staff Officers who serve as trustees. The National Board of Trustees coordinates the efforts of 48 department, or state, entities and the activities of over 1,000 community-based detachments located throughout the United States and overseas. The day-to-day operations of the League are under the control of the National Executive Director with the responsibility for the management and direction of all programs, activities, and affairs of the Marine Corps League as well as supervising the National Headquarters staff. Members of the Marine Corps League join together in camaraderie and fellowship for the purpose of preserving the traditions and promoting the interests of the United States Marine Corps, banding together those who are now serving in the United States Marine Corps and those who have been honorably discharged from that service that they may effectively promote the ideals of American freedom and democracy, voluntarily aiding and rendering assistance to all Marines and former Marines and to their widows and orphans; and to perpetuate the history of the United States Marine Corps and by fitting acts to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines. The Marine Corps has continuously stood in the forefront of our nation's history—in both war and peace. The Marine Corps League stands at the forefront too, serving in our communities, working with our youth, and assisting our Marines and veterans. Its members realize that some of the greatest rewards of life, are those of friendship and the sense of individual and group fulfillment. The Outer Banks Detachment was formed in late 2006 and was chartered on 30 December 2006. The Detachment was presented with its charter on 17 February 2007 by the National Marine Corps League Vice-Commandant, Steve Wilson in a ceremony at the Colington Yacht Club. At that time the detachment consisted of 26 members. The 26 charter-members are: Lee Baronet; Dan Beall; James Buckley Jr.; F. Kelly Chamberlain; Frank D. Draper; Kurt A. Duncan; Thomas Fentress; Dan Fillmore; Ron Gibson; Matthew B. Greene; Arthur T. Hildebrand; John Jumet; Ron Mason; Kevin J. McGrath; Bob Messinger; Joseph T. Montgomery; Bill O'Brien; Dan Robertson; Leonard Stone; Chuck Straub; John Strauss; Paul Strehan; Richard Sulik; Robert VanZee; Doug Wendling and; Robert J. Yanacek. Since that time, the membership has steadily increased and the detachment has strived to maintain the spirit of camaraderie among its members with activities such as our annual birthday celebration on 10 November of each year. More importantly, the detachment's role in making our community a better place has also increased with participation in programs such as Toys for Tots. Should you become a member of the Marine Corps League Outer Banks Detachment? If you're a Marine or an FMF Corpsman, the answer is "Yes!"
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