USMC MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

Last week someone decided to spray graffiti on the United States Marine Corps Memorial! Our hearts were broken and our tempers flared! But thanks to KUSA-TV, 9NEWS and FOX31 KDVR / Channel 2 KWGN and The Denver Gazette and their viewers/readers people came out of the woodwork to help clean it up. Specifically, our board member, David Bernard who spent the entire day trimming trees and cleaning and making sure things were done correctly. Matthew Rivera, our board's photographer documented everything perfectly! Berk Thornton and John Decker also answered the call to be there. Jessie Clay, a former Navy SEAL, with RIZE Exteriors has directed the cleanup with help from Scott Kult, a Marine with Colorado Power Cleaning and the final work will be completed soon! Jessie also introduced us to someone who may provide cameras. More to follow on that! Generi Marcelo and Richard Blakeman also helped with the cleanup. We'll get photos up on the website ASAP. I believe the world is full of good people who want to stand up for what's right! They just need something like this to motivate them so what evil meant to hurt us, actually helped as promised in Genesis 50:20. God bless everyone who donates to maintain YOUR United States Marine Corps Memorial and Semper Fidelis, everyone! Misty Cook David Vardeman Women Marines Association Marine Corps Recruiting Marine Corps Law Enforcement Program (MCLEP) Marine Corps League Marine Corps Systems Command Marine Corps Gazette Leatherneck Magazine Leatherneck Reconnect USMC MEMORIAL FOUNDATION City of Golden City of Lakewood

Monday May 27th 2024, Memorial Day! It started out as a beautiful day at the Memorial and I sat there talking to a veteran who had come from Texas and knew about the memorial. We shared some stories and he went on his way to return for the ceremony later. I Wondered if many people would show up. The holiday has become such a commercialized day but as the day went on 1 by 1…over 200 people came to the memorial to remember what the day is really all about. On this day remember those we loved and lost! The ceremony was spectacular with all the help that we have including Jim de George, Colorado National Guard state bagpiper; the award winning Rocky Mountain Renegades flyover team; the all-veterans honor guard from post 1992 American Legion in Aurora; recruit station Denver and their poolees; Marine Corps league state commandant Joe Millinger; master Sergeant Matthew king from Buckley’s combat logistics battalion 453; and recruiting staff Sergeant Kenny! But one of the most special people at the event was Iwo Jima veteran Jim Blane who will be turning 100 in November. All of our events are dedicated to Iwo Jima survivors this year. I'm sure that the poolee who sat next to him during the ceremony was thrilled and as he released the doves for the flyover everyone was grateful for the freedom that he had provided in his service to America. I'm so very thankful that I have the opportunity to live in the country where we can celebrate our freedom and enjoy the company of patriots no matter what their differences. At the golf tournament a couple of weeks ago, we were challenged by Bronco Alumni Ryan Harris to find someone different and learn to love them.  This day was a great display of patriots loving each other and loving America. God bless you, God Bless the United States Marine Corps Memorial and God bless America!   John 15:13… Marine Corps Recruiting Women Marines Association Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) Misty Cook David Vardeman Aurora Chamber of Commerce Marine News Jeremy Hubbard Joey Jones John R. Allen Lori Reynolds Carol Mutter Center For American Values

Happy Monday, everyone! I'm happy to report that the first Marine Memorial Golf Tournament in partnership with the NFL Alumni Association was a big success. We only had two unsold foursomes! We had a Hole-in-one challenge offered by Mercedes-Benz Denver and Advantage Hole-in-one, Dallas. EarthX, Old Town Dental, Flex Fitness, and Perfect Cloud as well as CU Athletics Alumni were key sponsors along with KeyBank, Cooper's Troopers, WMA CO-1, and Travis Manion Foundation. Of Course, our Title Sponsor Merrick Construction, Presenting Sponsor, Howell Construction, and the Kim Monson Show receive our deepest gratitude for their unending support of the project. Please see the attached photos that show the beautiful course, gorgeous weather for the day, and the fun all had. We honored our Iwo Jima Marines and Jim Blane & Al Jennings came out for lunch to mingle! The NFL had 23 members who left the NFL, joined the military, and were Killed In Action! Captain Howard (Smiley) Johnson was on Iwo Jima! We remembered all of them at the event! Many thanks to the NFL Alumni Association and the Colorado President, Wade Manning (Broncos) for his assistance and our dear friend Lenton Thomas (Miami) for showing us how it's done and Ryan Harris (Broncos) for speaking! My dear friend Burrell Landes did a great job of giving it the Marine twist! Chrysti Britt and Rex Laceby were also invaluable as were all our USMC Memorial Foundation Board members! I cannot express my gratitude and love for everyone who attended. See all the photos at https://lnkd.in/gDXF66zT

BREAKING GOLF TOURNAMENT NEWS! Marine Memorial Golf Tournament in partnership with NFL Alumni Association May 16th-Castle Pines CO..... Mercedes Benz Denver and Advantage Hole In One are offering a Mercedes-Benz AMG SL43 valued at $100k to the first golfer to make a HOLE-IN-ONE on hole 7! Special rules apply – see us at the tournament! Many other great prizes A N D ... SILENT AUCTION available on the website! Place your bids now! DEADLINE TO REGISTER YOUR FOURSOME IS MAY 14TH! Misty Cook David Vardeman Mercedes Benz Denver Women Marines Association Marine Corps Law Enforcement Program (MCLEP) Marine Corps Recruiting Christiana Floyd #USMarineCorps https://lnkd.in/g7yd8eBR

Join us for this GREAT Golf Tournament benefiting YOUR United States Marine Corps Memorial - Time is running so register to play or sponsor ASAP.... https://lnkd.in/g7yd8eBR Misty Cook #mistycook Paula Sarlls Paula Fugate, SPHRWomen Marines Association Marine Corps Law Enforcement Program (MCLEP) Marine for Life (M4L) - Denver Representative United States Marine Corps Semper Marines Executive Search Marine News Marine Corps Recruiting Marine Corps League Marine Corps Systems Command David Vardeman

Today I deposited a donation in Honor of Marine Sergeant Joe Andruzzi who was also a Chicago Police Officer. May he rest in peace guarding the streets of glory with all the other Marines! Our project to remodel the United States Marine Corps Memorial depends on your donations and I hope you'll consider donating using the "Buy a Brick" program. Learn more at Https://USMCMemorialFoundation.org

yesterday at The Ridge at Castle Pines North! this course is amazing! Please join us on May 16th for USMC MEMORIAL FOUNDATION tournament! Marine Corps Recruiting Misty Cook Kim Monson @ visit Golden colorado

Please join the USMC MEMORIAL FOUNDATION and the NFL Alumni Association for the Marine Memorial Golf Tournament in association with the NFL Alumni Association on May 16th at the Ridge at Castle Pines. Ryan Harris and our own Col Burrell Landes will be speaking at the luncheon afterwards. Lots of fun games and auction items. See our website for more info on sponsoring and playing. Golf Tournament Info - https://lnkd.in/gM_CAMXv

As President of the USMC Memorial Foundation I am honored to work with outstanding Marines to present ceremonies and events that "Honor Marines and Remember all who serve!" which is what Commandant Wilson charged us do in 1977 when THE United States Marine Corps Memorial was dedicated to "All Marines for All Time"! This year we're honoring our Iwo Jima Marines and especially the six which I am so privileged to know and still see on occasion. My dear friend Jim Blane is turning 100 this year! The others are at or near 99! So hat's off to the GREATEST of the Greatest Generation! Jack Thurman helped to design the memorial and is featured in the Rosenthal photo waving his hat behind Ira Hayes. On the island of Iwo Jima witnessing the flag raising were my friends shown below l-R Stan Newman (sitting) Wally Hill, Jim Blane, Tom Ramm, Jack Thurman, Don Whipple, Al Jennings, Max Brown, and Hiram Skeens. Misty Cook is a big supporter and we thank her for all she does for the Foundation as well as Kim Monson. Watch for more exciting news!

We don’t really want to think about taxes at this point in the year, but it’s a great time to consider a tax-deductible donation to a 501 C 3 – the USMC Memorial Foundation! Your bottom line in April will thank you! Send a check to USMC Memorial Foundation PO Box 441126 Aurora, CO 80044-1126 Or Donate online at https://lnkd.in/gDXF66zT