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The Honor Guard is no longer performing military
honors at funerals for deceased veterans of any branch of the military as
representatives of Marine Corps League Detachment #680. The "Central Coast
Leatherneck Honor Guard" will continue to provide these honors as a separate
entity from the MCL
The "Leatherneck Honor Guard" is becoming
their own non-profit organization under a 501c3 corporation.
The officers are;
Nick Guriel Ray Bacon
Rick Schimm Budd Dressler
Jim Brenton is the coordinator and the
dedicated phone number for the Honor Guard for anyone needing our services
is: 805-400-5340
A MCL 680 Color Guard has been established, wearing
authorized MCL uniforms, with the intent of doing parades, color guard
activities, and other appropriate ceremonial duties as appropriate. This
Color Guard is being headed up by Jim Pickins.
Honor Guard at Los Osos Memorial Park, April 4, 2007. Services for USMC
Cpl GARY LYLE SHEPARD, SR, receiving the flag was his son USMC Ssgt Gary Lyle
Shepard, Jr deploying to Iraq soon. Honor Guard members: Tom Torgerson,
Jim Hawkins, Mike Sheridan, Russ Tolchard, Bob Prophet, Jerry Boots, Nick Leon,
Karl Appel, Tim Haley, and John O'Connell.
Sgt LLOYD OLIVER HILEMAN, US Army, Age 92 Military Honors, 1 December, 2007 Benedict-Rettey Mortuary Chapel Ltcmdr WINDORF McCLELLAN "DOC" SOOTER, US Navy, Age 87 Graveside Military Honors, 30 November, 2007 Los Osos Valley Memorial Park 1st Sgt BURREL B "ANDY" ANDERSON, US Army, Age 74 Graveside Military Honors, 19 November, 2007 Los Osos Valley Memorial Park Tsgt JAMES LANE McDERMOTT, US Army, Age 86 Graveside Military Honors, 11 November, 2007 Arroyo Grande District Cemetery Tech4 LEE WILLIAM OWEN, US Army, Age 90 Graveside Military Honors, 1 November, 2007 San Luis Cemetery Pvt VALENTINE LIMONES YNOSTROSA, US Army, Age 91 Graveside Military Honors, 29 October, 2007 Atascadero District Cemetery Ams 2nd Class WILLIAM HENRY VALLERGA, US Navy, Age 86 Graveside Military Honors, 26 October, 2007 Templeton District Cemetery Mt Mach 3rd Class ROBERT FRED THOMPSON, US Navy, Age 79 Graveside Military Honors, 25 October, 2007 Arroyo Grande District Cemetery Aom 3rd Class, EDSON TURNER "EDDIE" STROBRIDGE, JR, US Navy, Age 80 Graveside Military Honors, 25 October, 2007 Santa Maria District Cemetery Msgt CHARLES RUSSELL "NICK" NICHOLS, JR, US Army, Age 87 Military Honors, 20 October, 2007 United Congregational Church, San Luis Obispo Msgt LEONA ELEANOR DICKEY, USMC, Age 92 Military Honors, 8 October, 2007, Lady Family Chapel, Arroyo Grande Tech4 WALTER JAMES TOGNI, US Army, Age 75 Graveside Memorial Military Honors, 11 October, 2007, San Luis Cemetery Sgt JOHN MILES MENDENHALL, US Army, Age 57 Military Honors, 8 October, 2007, Chapel of the Roses, Atascadero Sp4 ROBERT EDWIN MANDEVILLE, US Army, Age 73 Graveside Memorial Military Honors, 4 October, 2007, Los Osos Valley Memorial Park Pvt JERRY JEROME ESPOSITO, US Army, Age 75 Graveside Memorial Military Honors, 2 October, 2007, Arroyo Grande District Cemetery Pfc ALFRED HAWLEY GORMAN, US Army, Age 85 Military Honors, 30 September, 2007, Coalesce Bookstore and Chapel, Morro Bay Seaman 1st Class JOSEPH DAMIANO, SR, US Navy, Age 74 Military Honors, 29 September, 2007, Chapel of the Roses, Atascadero Sgt ROBERT GAFFNER, US Army, Age 77 Memorial Military Honors, 22 September, 2007, Chapel of the Roses, Atascadero Sp4 DARREL WILKERSON, US Army, Age 64 Memorial Military Honors, 14 September, 2007, Los Osos Valley Memorial Park Pfc HENRY MANCUS, US Army, Age 76 Memorial Military Honors, 7 September, 2007, Cavalry Chapel, Arroyo Grande Cpl DONALD WAYNE WILLIS, USMC, Age 82 Military Honors, 31 August, 2007, St Mary's Episcopal Church, Lompoc (Detachment 680 Member) Sgt MILO EUGENE HUTCHISON, USMC, Age 73 Memorial Military Honors, 30 August, 2007, Wheeler-Smith Mortuary Chapel, San Luis Obispo Pfc CARL EDWARD RICHTER, USMC, Age 82 Graveside Military Honors, 24 August 2007, Los Osos Valley Memorial Park Signalman 2nd Class HOWELL LeROY "ROY" ARMITAGE, US Navy, Age 82 Graveside Military Honors, 17 August 2007, Atascadero Cemetery Pfc BONARD C. MORROW, JR., USMC, Age 78 Graveside Military Honors, 13 August 2007, Atascadero Cemetery Pvt FRANKLIN WILD, USMC, Age 83 Graveside Military Honors, 8 August 2007, Cayucos-Morro Bay Cemetery CWO EUGENE FRANCIS MOON, USMC, Age 90 Graveside Military Honors, 6 August 2007, Santa Maria Cemetery Ssgt ARTHUR L. "BUD" TAYLOR, USAF, Age 74 Graveside Military Honors, 3 August 2007, Los Osos Valley Memorial Park Ssgt DAVE ARTHUR HARRIS, JR, USMC (Detachment 680 member), Age 81 Sgt
HENRY ORLANDO CASE, US Army, Age 84 Petty Officer 1st Class JOHN DAVID LOHR, US Navy, Age 84 Sgt BILLY "BILL" EUGENE WILLEY, USMC, Age 60 Memorial Military Honors, 25 June, 2007, Los Osos Valley Memorial Park Chapel Pfc JACK LYNN STEVENS, US Army, Age 82 Graveside Military Honors, 19 June 2007, Arroyo Grande District Cemetery Ssgt ANTHONY ENOS "TONY" CARVALHO, USAF, Age 59 Graveside Military Honors, 19 June 2007. Paso Robles District Cemetery Pharm Mate 2nd Class JOHN LEE MONTGOMERY, US Navy, Age 87 Graveside Military Honors, 12 June 2007 Cayucos-Morro Bay District Cemetery Pfc ERIC MICHAEL ENDARA, USMC, Age 21 Graveside Military Honors, 2 June 2007 Paso Robles District Cemetery LT COL EARLE FIELD, USAF, Age 85 Graveside Military Honors, 31 May 2007 San Luis Cemetery SGT GEARY RAYMOND GLOVE, US Army & Nat'l Guard, Age 55 Graveside Military Honors, 25 May 2007. Paso Robles District Cemetery Chief Pharmacist Mate ANTHONY "TONY" WAYNE KING, US Navy, Age 83 Graveside Military Honors, 15 May 2007 Los Osos Valley Memorial Park Radioman 2nd Class DARRELL DUANE WALL,US Navy, Age 88 Graveside Military Honors,11 May 2007 Cambria District Cemetery. Tsgt HERMAN DANIEL SNYDER, US Army, Age 95 Cpl GARY LYLE SHEPARD, SR, USMC, Age 63 Sk3, KURT EDWARD ZIMMEL, US Navy, Age 59 FRANK KROPP, US Navy, Age 82 Seabee E-6 EUGENE LEE KRIEWITZ, US Navy, Age 67 Photographer 1st Mate MAX NEWTON McALPINE, US Navy, Age 84
Lt/jg GEORGE MORGAN JAMES JR., US Navy, Age 88 Sgt HAROLD APPLETON, US Army, Age 84 Seaman 2nd Class, MAURICE RICHARD COATES, US Navy, Age 79 T/Sgt WILLIAM "BILL" LOWELL HINSON, US Army, Age 89 Pfc KENNETH LEE KEISTER, US Army, Age 82 Bmt JOHN VINCENT ALVINO, US Coast Guard, Age 60 Tsgt GEORGE WAYNE LANCASTER, US Army, Age 77
Sgt JONNIE G. ORR, US Army, Age 87 Pvt FREDERICK WILLIAM DRAKE, US Army, Age 83 SOME OF THE E-MAIL, CARDS AND LETTERS RECEIVED:
Subject: Greetings from
Iraq Thank you so much for the wonderful service for my husband, William L. Hinson. Betty Hinson and family. Dear Marine Corps League: Though this "thank you" is quite late, it is no less heartfelt. I wish to express the appreciation of our family to the League for the Honor Guard service that was performed for Robert Foote on Monday, November 15th,2005. Each of us were so impressed with the reverence, honor, and appreciation shown by your group. Each part of the ceremony was performed exquisitely and with solemnity, the situation required. None of us have been to a ceremony such as this and each of us has memories that we treasure. The faces of the participants, the care the flag was folded with, the clear tunes of the bugle, and the grace with which the flag was presented to Robert's granddaughter are images each of us will always remember. Our family is very proud of the service "Papa" gave to our country and with the dignity ;with which you paid him. He will always be our hero. Though current times are challenging to accept, we never forget the contributions made by our veterans. Thank you again for the heartfelt presentation. Sincerely, Patricia Foote and the Robert Foote family.
COMMENDATION LETTER: Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States February 4, 2006 Elizabeth M. Cook, Dear Detachment Commandant Cook: On behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 10978, Nipomo, California, I would like to make you aware of the outstanding service provided by members of your Detachment. On January 12, 2006, former United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal Brian Thomas passed away in Santa Maria, California. Funeral services were conducted on January 20, 2006. Brian was the Commander of Post 10978 until his untimely death. It was his family wishes that full military honors be given at the graveside service. Therein lies the genesis of this correspondence. Jesse Trevino, Detachment 680 Honor Guard Committee Chair, was contacted on January l3th with a request for the participation of your Detachment Honor Guard in the graveside services. Mr. Trevino immediately took charge, coordinating the scheduling of individual Detachment members available to serve as Honor Guard and also effecting liaison with an active duty Marine Corps detachment that eventually provided additional personnel assets. Messieurs Mike Sheridan, Karl Appel, and Tim Haley stepped forward to complete your Detachment detail. During the services, the Detachment 680 Honor Guard performed magnificently. Each member was properly uniformed, displayed outstanding appearance and executed all drills in an exemplary manner. The detail blended its activities seamlessly with the active duty contingent. Jesse Trevino, Mike Sheridan, Karl Appel and Tim Haley are commended for their outstanding performance and dedication to the spirit of the United States Marine Corps. VFW Post 10978 salutes its brothers-in-arms for a job well done. If I may be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at (805) 929-6865 Very truly yours,
A beautiful ceremony For those of you who have not yet observed the Marine Corps League Detachment 680 Ceremonial Team perform their tribute to a deceased veteran at his/her memorial service, you have missed something special. Although the Marine Corps League was established by Congress in 1937, the Central Coast did not have a detachment until 1999. Since they started folding flags draped over coffins of veterans, they have performed 445 such ceremonies to date. Only last week, I was present to observe their beautiful, precise tribute to an American Legionnaire. Even on short notice they were able to field six former Marines, dressed in their beautiful dress blue uniforms, to fire a rifle salute, fold the American flag that covered the coffin, play Taps and present the flag to the veteran’s widow. These are patriotic former Marines, most of whom wear medals from serving all over the world. Many are wearing Purple Heart medals, earned from being wounded while fighting for our freedom. My thanks to these patriotic Americans who volunteer their time to honor our fallen heroes. God bless them, and Semper Fi. Robert E. Lee, Past Commander
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