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Once a Marine ...... always a Marine.

River Valley Detachment #1248
Fort Smith, Arkansas

"At Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue." — Admiral Chester Nimitz, U.S. Navy "And they live tradition; the United States Marine bears upon his shoulders the nation's past and the nation's hope for the future." — Hanson W. Baldwin "I proudly served my country in a noble cause. I never faltered. I made personal sacrifices to keep my nation free. Brave Marines of the past are proud of me. I am one of the few and the proud. I am a Marine." "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem." — President Ronald Reagan, 1985 "You earned the title 'Marine' upon graduation from recruit training. It wasn't willed to you, it isn't a gift. It is not a government subsidy. Few can claim the title, no one may take it away. It is yours forever." — Tom Bartlett, Leatherneck Magazine "The safest place in Korea was right behind a platoon of Marines. Lord, how they could fight." — Major General Frank E. Lowe, U.S. Army "Through this hatch will pass the finest, most respected fighting man in the world: A United States Marine." "Not as lean, not as mean, but still a Marine." "Adapt. Improvise. Overcome." "All men are created equal, then some become Marines." "It cannot be inherited nor can it ever be purchased. You and no one alive can buy it for any price. It is impossible to rent and it cannot be lent. You alone and our own have earned it with your sweat, blood and lives. You own it forever — the title: United States Marine." "I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world." — General Douglas MacArthur, U.S. Army "The difficult we accomplish with ease. The impossible takes a while." "Come on you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?" — Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly "The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps." — Eleanor Roosevelt, 1945 "Civilians cannot and will not understand us because they are not one of us. The Corps — we love it, live it and shall die for it. If you have never been in it, you shall never understand it." "The Marines have landed and the situation is well in hand." — Richard Harding Davis "You cannot exaggerate about the Marines. They are convinced to the point of arrogance, that they are the most ferocious fighters on earth — and the amusing thing about it is, they are." — Father Kevin Keany, 1st Marine Division Chaplain, Korean War "Once a MARINE, always a MARINE."

Detachment Funeral Honors

The officers and members of River Valley Detachment #1248 believe that all veterans, regardless of branch of service, deserve to have his or her service to our country recognized and honored. We believe that the proper way to recognized that service is with the dignified rendering of full military honors at the funeral.

"At one time in his or her life the Veteran, whether Regular, Reserve, or National Guard, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of Aemrica for an amount up to and including his or her life." We firmly believe that this sacrifice must be honored.

Several members of the Detachment volunteer with the VFW's District 7 Burial Detail and make up the bulk of that organization. This Burial Detail provides full military honors for any deceased veteran, regardless of service branch, if the family requests it. Those honors include:

  1. An Honor Guard
  2. Firing of three volleys by a rifle team
  3. Playing of Taps
  4. Folding of the Flag and presentation to next of kin

For funerals of deceased Marines, the River Valley Detachment #1248 provides full military honors using all Marine Corps League participants. We provide:

  1. An all-Marine Honor Guard
  2. Firing of three volleys by a Marine rifle team
  3. Playing of Taps by a Marine using the Detachment's ceremonial bugle
  4. Folding of the Flag
  5. Presentation of the Flag and Marine Corps memorabilia to the next of kin
  6. Various other services performed by the Detachment Chaplain and MCL volunteers — See Detachment Chaplain Services Available for services provided to the family.

Marines take care of their own.

©2010 Ryan Stockwell for Marine Corps League Detachment #1248
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