Granite State Detachment 542, Marine Corps League

Greater Hillsborough County Area

Commandant's Message

Welcome back to the Oorah Newsletter, it has been a few months since the last one, but with this one we hope to be back on track for doing it quarterly.

I am happy to report that we had a successful fundraising campaign last weekend June 29-30^th at Bass Pro Shop and Market Basket in Hooksett and Bedford. Thank you to all those that volunteered to man the tables. Our next fundraiser will be at the end of August, watch for emails with more information and to volunteer.

I am looking forward to the booth we will have at the car show on Elm Street in Manchester during Labor Day weekend. We are working out all the details now and I think it is really going to be a fun event to get the word out on the best kept secret in NH, who is the Marine Corps League! Watch for more details to come out in emails from us looking for volunteers and information to come out and enjoy the event.

We are also planning a detachment picnic at the end of the summer. A couple of our members are working on making it a fun day. As soon as the location and plan for the day is nailed down, we will let everyone know the details.

I wish Everyone a Happy 4^th of July! 

Alieni Semel, Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Fratres et Sorores in Aeternum!   

Strangers Once, Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers and Sisters Forever  

Quidam Dedit Omnibus 

All Gave Some, Some Gave All

Commandant - Gary Gahan

“Duty”

We Marines who served in Vietnam did our duty, for our country.

We did so much hiking, we never complained. We did our duty, as we were trained to do. Sometimes in 120⁰ heat. During the monsoon season it was 50⁰, we were often wet and cold and dealing with jungle rot (athlete’s feet).

So many of us, 18 - 19 year olds died. Those Marines who lived dealt with guilt & suicide. There was no help for PTSD formerly called shell shock, in those days.

We heard North Vietnamese bugles during the night. Asians dying in front of us. Wave after wave of young soldiers, many who looked 15 - 16 years old. We were all praying for morning light.

When we returned home, we were unpopular & told not to wear our uniforms, some did so anyway. We did our duty and never complained.

As the years have gone by, there are less Vietnam Veterans. Remember us in your prayers & remember a war that happened a long time ago.

God Bless,

Joe Duquette, Chaplain

Joe Duquette, Chaplain

At the May 14th monthly meeting, GSD held their election for the officers of the detachment; Commandant, Sr. Vice Commandant, Jr. Vice Commandant, and Judge Advocate.

Pictured below is the newly elected officers, Gary Gahan - Commandant, Michelle Van Valkenburg - Sr. Vice Commandant, and Chris Pierce - Judge Advocate; as they were sworn in by the National Vice Commandant Patrick Maguire. No Jr. Vice Commandant was elected.

For those that joined us, and for those that were not able to attend the Quad State in April of this year, we hope that you enjoy these pictures from the days of the convention.

Thank you to Cherie Monnell, Jr. Past Commandant of the Department of NH, for organizing and putting together this great event.

We look forward to the next Quad State in 2025!

Thank you to all that applied for our academic scholarship this year. We had so many incredible candidates that we could not pick just one. Some students we awarded this scholarships at their high school awards nights, and others that were farther away were mailed their scholarship winnings.

2024 Frank A Diekmann Academic Scholarship Award Winners:

Iain Nicol @ Winnacunnet High School

Rachel Otto @ Memorial High School 

Cloe Gilroy @ Central High School

Umm Saidybah @ Central High School

Xena Sawyer - by mail

Lily Byers - by mail

Parker Fagen -by mail

Rachel Otto was awarded her scholarship by GSD member and Chaplain Joe Duquette.

We are happy to welcome our newest members to the Granite State Detachment #542 in 2024 that were sworn in at the June 9th Membership Meeting. We are looking forward to years of friendship, camaraderie, and fun as we help fellow Marines, Veterans, and the Community together!

Welcome

Kayley Bass

Suzanna Rak

William (Bill) Rogers

Left to right: Suzanna Rak, Kayley Bass, Bill Rogers, and Gary Gahan

Left to right: Suzanna Rak, Kayley Bass, Gary Gahan, and Bill Rogers

Some of you may have noticed that back in May our Facebook page was no longer published on the social media site. It seems that someone attacked (h@cked) our page and made it so that it was unpublished and no mater what we did to fix it, nothing worked.

Therefore, we have ad to recreate our Facebook page with a slightly different page name.

Below is the link for the new page, we ask that you go to the page and click the follow button so that you can see all of our posts.

As part of his Love and Respect for our Veterans, Past and Present, Richard has joined the Boston Red Sox Run to Home Base Program by creating a Team of One (for the moment) for the Red Sox Run to Home Base event taking place on July 27th, 2024

For the past 5 years, Richard March has participated in Home Base with his former employer, Technical Communications Corporation in Concord Massachusetts. He was recently employed with a different firm which did not participate in the Home Base program and eventually terminated his position, so he decided to create a One-Man Team, named after his Work in Progress book on the History of the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, titled: A Place in the Pines (To Reflect, Honor and Remember).

Granite State Detachment #542 has committed to donating $1000 to Richard's fundraiser to support veterans with PTSD in 2024.

We ask that you click the link below to read more about Richard and his special walk from the Veterans Cemetery to the Veterans Home in NH.

Below you will also find a link to make a direct donation to this cause that we have supported last year and this year.

The eight-point Veteran’s Creed is:

1.   I am an American Veteran

2.   I proudly served my country

3.   I live the values I learned in the military

4.   I continue to serve my community, my country and my fellow veterans

5.   I maintain my physical and mental discipline

6.   I continue to lead and improve

7.   I make a difference

8.   I honor and remember my fallen comrades

Source:  https://www.vfw.org/media-and-events/latest-releases/archives/2018/6/veterans-organizations-establish-veterans-creed

Join us for our next FUNday breakfast on July 6th at 0800 at the Belmont Hall Restaurant, 718 Grove Street, Manchester, NH to join in on all this fun! Hope to see you there!

Below please find some links for the VA website that may be helpful to you.

Outreach events

VA benefits can help Veterans and their families buy homes, earn degrees, start careers, stay healthy, and more. Join an event for conversation and information.

Outreach Materials

Use our outreach materials to help Veterans manage their journey with VA and learn about their benefits.

State Departments of VA Offices

Select a state or territory below to visit the website for that location’s Department of Veterans Affairs office.

Download or Print out your VA Welcome Kit

Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.

September 1st - Membership Dues are due. Please mail in your check to the address at the bottom of this email.

Monthly Member Meeting - Every 2^nd Tuesday at 1830 for the detachment meeting at the American-Canadian Genealogical Society at 1 Sundial Ave., Suite 317, Manchester, NH 03103.

Upcoming Meeting Dates

July 9, 2024

August 12, 2024

September 10, 2024

Monthly Breakfast -Every last Saturday of the month at 0800 at the Airport Diner for the FUNday meet-n-greet breakfast @ 2280 Brown Avenue, Manchester.

Upcoming Breakfast Dates

July 6, 2024 (pushed out from June 29th) - check message above for location

July 27, 2024

August 31, 2024

September 28, 2024

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. 

Our mission is to voluntarily aid and render assistance to all Marines, FMF Chaplains, FMF Corpsmen and former Marines, FMF Chaplains and FMF Corpsmen and to their widows and orphans. 

Our Membership Coverage Area is the greater Hillsborough County with some towns in Rockingham County. For the full list of towns we encompass, please check out our membership page on our website.

Monthly Meetings

When: Monthly Meetings of the Granite State Detachment are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month

Where: The Elks Lodge #146 located at 290 Granite St in Manchester

Time: Meetings begin promptly and 1830



Info: Membership is not a requirement for attendance and guests are always welcome to attend these events.

2024 Officers

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