4 June 2005
CRYSTAL INN
MIDVALE, UT
To: Department of Utah, Marine Corps League, Inc.
This report is submitted on behalf of the members of the Lt. Serge B. Simmons Detachment #1159.
1. The Detachment's Charter was issued on 29 January 2004 and was presented to the Officers and members on Saturday 20 March 2004.
2. During the first year in existence, the following were its officers.
Commandant Jay D. Knowlden
Sr. Vice Commandant Christopher Knowlden
Jr. Vice Commandant Donald A. Cathcart, Jr. (March-September 2004)
Paul G. Kellley (September 2004-May 2005)
Judge Advocate Vern R. Wade
Adjutant/Paymaster Joseph P. C. Surace
Chaplain John Estrada
Sgt-at-Arms Vacant
3. The Detachment presently meets at the American Legion Post 134, 345 South Depot Street, Clearfield, Utah 84015 on the 3rd Wednesday (1900 hours) of each month.
4. Detachment membership numbers at this time are:
Total: 52 = Regular: 39 Associate: 1 Delinquent: 12
5. The Detachment's By-Laws have been approved by the Department Judge Advocate on 28 March 2005. The Department Judge Advocate has a copy on file.
6. The Articles of Incorporation have been submitted to the Utah Department of Commerce, Licensing and Enforcement System and they were approved on 29 March 2005. The Department Judge Advocate, also has a copy in his possession.
7. since its beginning, the Lt. Serge B. Simmons Detachment has been on the attack and has taken the high road in every undertaking it has pursued, the following is a list of our accomplishments:
a) During the July 24th Parade in Ogden, the Detachment with the PFC James Jay Williams Unit #445 setup a recruiting table along the parade route in front of the Ogden Municipal Building.
b) Supported the PFC James Jay Williams Unit #445, Marine Corps League Auxiliary with their various yard sales.
c) Supported the PFC James Jay Williams Unit #445 at the local swap meet and manned the recruiting table during the course of the day.
d) Attended the Marine Corps Reserves Fox Company's Family Day Picnic with the PFC James Jay Williams Unit #445.
e) Accompanied the Cpl. Robert M. Sawaya Unit #447, Marine Corps League Auxiliary at the Marine Corps Reserve Charlie Company's Family Day Picnic.
f) The Detachment's representative attended d12 meetings at the Wasatch North Veterans Council luncheon meetings, and gave an update of our activities at each gathering.
g) Our Adjutant, is the Certified Representative for the Marine Corps League at the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City. This same member serves on the VAVS Executive Committee and holds the Chairmanship for the volunteer recruiting committee.
h) Recently, the Marine Corps League received recognition at the Yearly Volunteers Awards function from the Director of the VA Medical Center, for its 600 plus hours of volunteer service during its first year of participation at the hospital.
i) During the 2004 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, our Detachment VA Representative was tasked with forming a Color Guard of Veterans from other local Veterans Organizations, to perform at the final Awards presentation. Once again, we captured the skyline.
j) Our finest undertaking for our young Detachment is, taking responsibility for the Northern area of Utah for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots Foundation. Our new Commandant, Chris Knowlden did not hesitate to take on the role, and has been approved as the certified Coordinator by the Foundation for our area. Our co-partners in this endeavor is the Catholic Community Services in Ogden, Utah. To add to the above, its a three team effort which includes the PFC James Jay Williams Unit #445, Marine Corps League Auxiliary.
k) The Detachment attended the rededication of the Old Hopkins' School for the new Catholic Community Services facilities. It was a U.S. Marine Corps event, by having the I&I Staff of the Marine Corps Reserve Center be the Color Guard, and two local recruiters from the RSS Roy perform the lowering and raising the Colors.
l) Marine Donald J. Denney surveyed the Roy Cemetery for Fallen Marines, and placed small Marine Corps flags on their graves for Memorial Day.
m) Two members from the Detachment, assisted the VFW Ben G. Russo Post #3586 in Sugar House, with placing over 3000 flags on Veterans graves in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Salt Lake City for Memorial Day.
n) A temporary relief fund has been created, called the Puppy Scratch Relief Fund Committee. One of our Marine families have received nearly $400 from our Detachment recently, through donations from our mailing list of more than 180 marines.
o) A donation of $300 was shared between Fox Company & Charlie Company for the purpose of assisting the junior troops to attend their respective Unit's Marine Corps Balls.
p) Over 50 Marine Corps sympathy cards were mailed to fallen Marines' families this past year.
q) Attended Cpl Matthew Smith funeral held at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
r) Attended Fox Company's monument dedication at the Draper city Park.
s) complied with one of the purposes, that the Marine Corps League was founded on, and that is," to aid voluntarily and to render assistance to all Marines and former Marines as well as to their spouses, orphans, and parents." The Detachment is assisting a former Marine who is stricken down by the Guillain-Barre syndrome last February, and at this time is unable to speak. Recently, he has been transferred from the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center to the South Davis Community Hospital in Bountiful, Utah where he is still being cared for.
t) The Detachment Chaplain is very instrumental and committed, in procuring financial assistance to our bereft Marines. He is to be recognized for his zealous compassion for his fellow Marines and their families. But he doesn't stand alone, for he has the complete support of this fellow Marines in the Detachment.
As it was mentioned earlier in this report, the Lt. Serge B. Simmons Detachment #1159 is on the attack, and will keep the high ground, and will continue to press ahead to make our presence felt as a viable Marine Veterans' organization here in the state of Utah. it has been a long time coming-we are here.
Respectfully submitted,
Jay D. Knowlden
Detachment Commandant
I move this report be accepted, and it become a part of these Proceedings.