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

River Valley Detachment #1248
Fort Smith, Arkansas

"The Marines have landed and the situation is well in hand." — Richard Harding Davis "Not as lean, not as mean, but still a Marine." "Adapt. Improvise. Overcome." "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 "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 "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 "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." "Through this hatch will pass the finest, most respected fighting man in the world: A United States Marine." "Once a MARINE, always a MARINE." "Come on you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?" — Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly "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 "All men are created equal, then some become Marines." "The difficult we accomplish with ease. The impossible takes a while." "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 "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." "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 "At Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue." — Admiral Chester Nimitz, U.S. Navy

Detachment Programs

Chartered in July, 2006, River Valley Detachment #1248 is a relatively new Marine Corps League Detachment. However, our members are very active in our Detachment's programs and services to our community. Among the programs and events we participate in are:

Toys-For-Tots

Our Detachment members take part annually in the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys-For-Tots campaign raising funds and collecting and distributing toys to needy children at Christmas. Last year we collected over 6,000 toys and raised over $6,000 for the program.

Burial Detail

One of the things most meaningful to our members is our participatin with members of VFW Post #8845 in providing full military honors for deceased veterans. As a matter of fact, River Valley Detachment #1248's members comprise over 80 percent of the Burial Detail. For deceased Marines, we perform military honors with an all Marine Corps League contingent. We also try to visit the families of deceased Marines and offer our services to the family in any capacity they need us.

MCL Ladies Auxiliary

River Valley Detachment recently sponsored and chartered the first, and currently only, Marine Corps League Ladies Auxiliary in the Department of Arkansas. This fine group of ladies is becoming very active and we are very proud of them.

Young Marines

River Valley Young Marines is a youth program emphasizing honesty, respect, industry, loyalty, dependability, and a sense of devotion to God, country, community and family. The Young Marines promotes a drug-free lifestyle among its members. Boys and girls from age 8 to graduation from high school are eligible to join.

Marine Corps Birthday Ball

One of the most sacred and revered days of the year for Marines is November 10, 1775, the birthday of our beloved Marine Corps. On or around November 10th each year River Valley Detachment holds a formal Birthday Ball commemorating the birth and carrying on the traditions of the Marine Corps. It is one of the most important and anxiously awaited events on our Detachment calendar.

Community Involvement

In addition to our involvement in Marine Corps related and veterans activities, River Valley Detachment #1248 is heavily involved with and participate in other community events and causes. Among them:

  • Memorial Day and Veterans' Day Services at Fort Smith National Cemetary
  • Memorial Day Parade
  • Veterans' Day Parade
  • Mayor's Fourth of July Fireworks Display
  • Color Guard for Cancer Society Fund Drive Kickoff
  • Fort Smith Air Show
  • River Valley Veterans National Cemetary Association

Also, several times each year our Detachment holds fish frys, spaghetti dinners, gumbo and jambalaya feasts, veterans' fairs, etc. We also have plans to participate in Oktoberfest, the Arkansas-Oklahoma State Fair, Arkansas-Oklahoma Rodeo parades, etc. Like all Marines, we serve when and where we are needed.

©2010 Ryan Stockwell for Marine Corps League Detachment #1248
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