Dear Editor:

The South Carolina Marine Corps League is reaching out to many cities throughout the state to charter a Marine Corps League Detachment in your area.

Currently there are 21 detachments in South Carolina with a membership in excess of 1,400 former Marines. There are about 1,200 detachments nationwide with a membership of 60,000 or more.

Some of the functions the organization sponsors are Memorial Day parades, Veterans Day candlelight services, a drug-free program in the public schools and additionally we maintain a scholarship program for our members.

The organization began Jan. 5, 1937 by an act of Congress. The primary purpose of the Marine Corps League is to celebrate the anniversary of the Marine Corps, promote patriotism and to share the Marine brotherhood known throughout the world.

We have detachments in South Carolina that are responsible for creating a quarter-million dollar Veterans Memorial Park in Aiken as well as two other detachments in Charleston, Beaufort and Greenville working with young Marines. It is unlimited what a Marine Corp League Detachment can do for a community due primarily to the fact that we are a band of brothers that have been so since the founding of the Marine Corps on Nov. 10, 1775. We share a brotherhood unlike any other military organization. We are currently conducting a membership drive throughout the state of South Carolina and have chartered 16 new detachments in two years.

Requirements to charter include having a minimum of 15 Marines (active or non-active duty status) who have served honorably for at least 90 days or more. If you would like to see a Marine Corps League Detachment in your community, please contact the organizer, Frank Sossamon at (864) 487-4116.

The Marine Corps League also participates in the national program Toys for Tots, celebrates the Marine Corps Birthday Ball every November and offers Marine Corps League license plates to members.

Sincerely,

Ed Hammons

South Carolina MCL Commandant

1434 Herndon Dairy Road

Aiken, SC 29803