The Greater Greensburg
Detachment
# 834

of the

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE

Department of Pennsylvania





The next Detachment 834 meeting will be held on 23 November at:
Hose Co. #7, 625 E. Pittsburgh St, Greensburg.
Time: 1000. We hope to see you all there!

Use the links below to navigate to other parts of the website.

About the MCL
Membership
Meetings
Links
Toys for Tots
Rifle/Pistol Teams
VAVS
Adaptive Baseball
Birthday Ball
Young Marines
Honor Guard


If you're a Marine - whether Active Duty, Retired, or Veteran, you should belong to . . .

The Marine Corps League.

There's probably a Marine Corps League detachment in your area. Visit the Marine Corps League National Headquarters web site (scroll down to the "Marine-related Links" section below) to locate the detachment nearest you. If you have questions, you can call them at 1-800-MCL-1775. To learn more about our Detachment, click on the button below to look at the most recent Detachment Newsletter (it requires Adobe Reader to view and may take a minute or two to download).

In order to be a member of the Marine Corps League, you must be currently serving or have served honorably for not less than 90 days in the Marine Corps or as an FMF Navy Corpsman or Chaplain. If you live in the Greensburg area and meet these qualifications, you are invited to join the Greensburg Detachment of the Marine Corps League. If you are interested in joining, click on the button below and print a copy of our application form. Mailing instructions are at the bottom of the form.

The Greensburg Detachment of the Marine Corps League was established in 1992 by a group of about a dozen former Marines. Currently the detachment strength varies between 50 and 60 active members. We are always interested in new members and would be happy to welcome you aboard. Check out our membership roster, maybe you'll find an old buddy there. To view our roster, click on the button below.

Greensburg is located approximately 30 miles due east of Pittsburgh in the beautiful Laurel Highlands of Western Pennsylvania. Our meetings are held in Youngwood, PA which is several miles south of Greensburg, near the New Stanton interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Among the many attractions in this area are Seven Springs Ski Resort, Ohiopyle whitewater rafting area, Nemacolin Resort, and Fort Ligonier.

View our Guestbook
Free Guestbooks by Bravenet.com

Return to top


Detachment Officers for the year 2024

Elected Officers
Commandant Chris Demorest (724) 850-7242
Senior Vice Commandant Jim Lohr (724) 925-2735
Junior Vice Commandant Barry Younkin (412) 616-3597
Judge Advocate Brian Hurst (724) 882-4410
Junior Past Commandant Frank Antoline (724) 523-4208


Appointed Officers
Adjutant Joyce Arrigoni (724) 861-8558
Chaplain Gary Burkett (724) 493-5958
Newsletter Editor Joyce Arrigoni (724) 861-8558
Paymaster Frank Antoline (724) 523-4208
Quartermaster Chris Demorest (724) 850-7242
Sergeant at Arms Doug Hurst (724) 834-4542
Trustee George Whipkey (724) 837-0574
Trustee Denny Blank (724) 836-3225
Web Sergeant Gordon Johnson (910) 409-9941


New Meeting Location

Detachment meetings are held at Hose Company #7 at 625 E Pittsburgh St, Greensburg, PA at 1000, on the following days:

The 4th Saturday of January, March, May, September, and November.

Our thanks to Hose Company #7 for providing us with an outstanding meeting place!
NO steps, NO smoke (entry will be behind the building). Please consider coming to a meeting.

All Marines are cordially invited to attend our meetings!

Return to top

Marine-related Links

The United States Marine Corps
Marine Forces Reserve
Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC)
Marine Corps League National Headquarters
Marine Corps League Department of Pennsylvania
Military.com - Marine Corps
Request Your Military Medals
Request your Military Records
MCL Uniform Regulations
MCL Ribbons - Order of Precedence
Marine Corps Times
Detachment 834 Facebook Page

Return to top

Detachment Activities


The Greensburg Detachment is looking forward to another successful year for their " Toys for Tots" program. Our detachment is one of 10 in the state of Pennsylvania that operates a Toys for Tots program on its own, independently of a Marine Corps Reserve Center. Call one of us if you have questions about Toys for Tots in Westmoreland County or if you are interested in helping to make sure that every child in Westmoreland County has a Merry Christmas.

For more information, click the button below to visit the Westmoreland County Toys for Tots website!

All toys and money collected in Westmoreland County will stay in Westmoreland County for use in the Toys for Tots Campaign.

Return to top


Rifle/Pistol Teams

The Greensburg Detachment participates in the "Department of Pennsylvania Marine Corps League Service Rifle Match" at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA. Members of the Greensburg Detachment are joined by members of the nearby Rolling Rock Detachment to form 5-man teams.

Return to top


VAVS

Our Detachment is also involved in Veterans Affairs Volunteer Services. Members regularly collect mens' clothing, books, magazines, and other personal items for distribution to patients at the VA Hospital at Highland Park near Pittsburgh and other local area nursing homes.

Return to top


Adaptive Recreation Program

This program, "Southwest Greensburg Adaptive Baseball", offers an opportunity for handicapped children in our area to participate in "Little-League-type" baseball games. For many years, the Greensburg Detachment purchased and awarded trophies to these children for their efforts. It is heart-warming to see how thrilled these kids are to receive these awards. Every player is a winner, and each one receives a trophy.

Southwest Greensburg Adaptive Baseball Team - 2008.

Return to top


Marine Corps Birthday Ball

Each year the Greensburg Detachment hosts a celebration of the founding of the United States Marine Corps.
All Marines are invited to attend!

Formal commemoration of the birthday of the Marine Corps began Nov. 10, 1921. That particular date was chosen because on that day the Second Continental Congress resolved in 1775 to raise two battalions of Continental Marines. On Oct. 21, 1921, Maj. Edwin McClellan of the Corps' historical branch, sent a memorandum to then Commandant Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune, suggesting that the original birthday on November 10, 1775 be declared a Marine Corps holiday to be celebrated throughout the Corps.

Accordingly, on Nov. 1, 1921, Lejeune issued Marine Corps Order No. 47, Series 1921. The order summarized the history, mission, and tradition of the Corps, and directed that it be read to every command on Nov. 10 each subsequent year in honor of the birthday of the Marine Corps. This order has been duly carried out. The first so-called "Birthday Ball," such as suggested by McClellan, was probably held in 1925 in Philadelphia. Guests included Lejeune, the secretaries of War and Navy, and famous statesmen, soldiers, and sailors.

It is not possible to determine precisely when the first cake ceremony was held, but the first on record was held at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., in 1937. Presiding Commandant Maj. Gen. Thomas Holcomb hosted an open house for Marine Corps officers. Ceremonies included the cutting of a huge cake designed after the famous Tun Tavern in Philadelphia. On Oct. 28, 1952, then Commandant, Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr., directed that the celebration of the Marine Corps Birthday be formalized throughout the Corps, and provided an outline for the cake ceremony, as well as other formal observances. This outline was included in the Marine Corps Drill Manual, approved Jan. 26, 1956.

Return to top


Young Marines

YOUNG MARINES
OF THE
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE

...founded to promote the mental, moral and
physical development of young Americans.


For more information about this program, visit The Young Marines national website for the official youth program of the Marine Corps League. Founded in 1958 to promote the mental, moral and physical development of young Americans, the Young Marines offers a variety of activities specifically designed to develop greater self-esteem, discipline and self-confidence in its members.

Character building is one of the most important objectives of the Young Marine program, and all of its activities emphasize the importance of honesty, courage, respect, loyalty, dependability, and a sense of devotion to God, country, community and family.

In July of 1993, the United States Marine Corps officially designated the Young Marines program as the focal organization for fulfilling its participation in the Department of Defense's drug demand reduction activities. Young Marines make a pledge to maintain a drugfree lifestyle and are encouraged to influence family, friends, and schoolmates to share this commitment.

Drug education and prevention classes are an integral part of the Young Marine education and training program. These classes are frequently conducted by qualified agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

For more information regarding the Young Marines of the Marine Corps League, use the above link, or write to:

Young Marines of the Marine Corps League
P.O.Box 70735 Southwest Station
Washington, DC 20024-0735

Return to top


Honor Guard and Color Guard

Detachment members (left to right) The late John Rosatti, Walt Gaffney, Joe Nist,
Gary Burkett, GySgt Charles Blawas, and the late Ralph Conde, Al Lorince, and Jim Cole
march in a Fort Ligonier Days Parade

Uniformed members of the Greensburg Detachment participate in Memorial Services and Parades.
During recent years, we were proud to participate in the following events:

  • 14th Quartermaster Memorial Service
  • Fort Ligonier Days Parade
  • Central City Armed Forces Memorial Dedication
  • Vietnam Veterans of Westmoreland County Ceremony
  • Westmoreland County Fair Parade
  • Moving Wall Ceremony
  • Youngwood Centennial Parade
  • 4th of July Parade - Monroeville
  • Return to top



    This website is maintained by Detachment member Gordon Johnson.
    If you have comments or suggestions, please email me at:

    gljsr@att.net

    Latest update: 16 November 2024


    Once a Marine - Always a Marine

    Semper Fi


    The information and opinions expressed at this site are those of the author. They do not represent the official views of the Marine Corps League, the United States Marine Corps, the Department of Defense or its agencies.

    The Eagle, Globe and Anchor emblem and the name Marine Corps are registered trademarks of the USMC. The Marine Corps League and its subordinate organizations support the USMC and its veterans, however it is not officially connected to or endorsed by the USMC, and the name and emblem are used with permission.


    Visitors to this site since 1/24/2018