JULY MEETING
 
Col. Mike Walker, USMC (Ret.) will return for the July 15th meeting, as the guest speaker. He will give us his analysis on the current threat with North Korea.  Those of us that have seen Mike, know that he has in depth knowledge to share with us.
 
Luncheon meeting will be at 1130 at the Desert Falls Country Club, Palm Desert. Reservations are appreciated.  (760) 901-5494.  Please order your meal preference: Cobb Salad or Club Sandwich or Cheese Burger.  Price is $15.00 when pre-selected.  Otherwise, those without reservations the price will be $20.00.
 
FIVE NEW MEMBERS IN JUNE
 
Please join me in welcoming 5 new members to the chapter and to welcome two former members back:
 
BGen. Herman S. Clardy, Commanding General, MCAGCC, 29 Palms has joined the chapter. He was the June meeting guest speaker.  Clardy assumed command last September.  He lives at 29 Palms with his wife and two daughters.
 
Jim Larsh has also joined the chapter.  He served 1956 - 1958 with 7th Marines Recon.  He is a retired Pasadena Policeman.  Jim and his wife Barbara live in Palm Desert.
 
David Nola joined the chapter.  Nola is employed by Desert Television.  He served with the 1st FSSG, 1976 - 1980.  He lives in La Quinta. He was recruited by George Stettler.
 
Michael L. Walker (Yes, two Mike Walkers now) has also joined the chapter.  He served 1963 - 1967. He lives in La Quinta where he is the General Manager of the PGA West Residential Home Owners Association. He was recruited by Carl Brooks.
 
Jimmy Wheeler joined the chapter as an Associate Member.  He served with the 3rd Marines 1955 - 1958.  Jimmy lives in Palm Desert.
 
In addition to the new members, two former members have rejoined the chapter:  Peter Van Vechten and Christopher DeSalva.
 
NEW BOARD MEMBERS
 
At the June Board meeting, Henry Sanchez and George Stettler were elected to the board of directors to fill  vacancies with the departure of Sandy Sandoval and Michael Key.
 
 
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE                                                    Quint Villanueva
 
For the better part of last year and thus far into 2010 our Chapter has been fairly busy in carrying out its mission of supporting the 7th Marines and other Marine related community activities.  To those ends, our Chapter and you as individuals, have made generous donations of your time and money when requested.  Here is a recap of some of the activities our Chapter and your donations have supported:
 
A pre-deployment out door steak barbecue for the 7th Marines shipping out for Afghanistan; a welcome home Ball for Marines returning from Afghanistan who missed the Marine Corps birthday ball; Christmas Gift Cards  for families of deployed Marines; donations to the Devil Pups program; donations to the Marine Corps JrROTC program; shipping 96 Solar Showers to the 7th Marines in Afghanistan; receiving a donation from Patagonia and shipping 150 + sets of high quality men’s underwear to the 7th Marines in Afghanistan and now finalizing a donation from Proctor & Gamble of Baby Wipes for the 7th Marines in Afghanistan.  Our Chapter participates in the annual Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade; Chapter members made presentations to Palm Desert High School history classes of their experiences in WW II and Korean.  In May, our Chapter hosted a luncheon for 33 Women Marines at the I W Club honoring the service of Women Marines.  The Chapter recently made a financial donation to the 1/7 to help with their Family Appreciation Day (1600 Marines & families) on July 2nd before they deploy.
 
Your Chapter officers and directors are fully occupied in carrying out our Chapter’s mission and your continuing support is greatly appreciated as we move on to other projects in support of the Marines.  
 
SEMPER FI
 
PALM DESERT GOLF CART PARADE, OCTOBER 31
 
Heads up WW II Marines!  This year we will honor you at this parade.  We will have a 8 passenger golf cart to drive you along El Paseo with our other veteran Marines escorting you.  Marilyn Paige will also ride with you.  There will be a color guard to lead the way.  We always get a tremendous crowd response for the Desert City Mitchell Paige MOH Chapter entry.
 
Please mark you calendar to join us and be honored in this parade.  The date is Sunday, October 31st.  Parade starts at 1:00 PM and over by 2:30 PM.  Afterwards, we will get together at Karen & Jim  Sullivan’s (about 1 ½ miles south of El Paseo) for refreshments and goodies.
 
MEMBERSHIP ROSTER
 
Enclosed is a updated roster.  Please check your personal information and let Quint Villanueva 360-8539, know if there are corrections needed.  Quint is available 24/7.  If you have added a computer, please give us your e-mail address.
 
BABY WIPES OFF TO AFGHANISTAN
 
New Breed Marines love Baby Wipes.  Big demand for them, especially those Marines at forward combat posts where sanitation facilities are not available.
We found a source through Procter & Gamble who donated  a full pallet of them (approx. 40,000 packages of them).  We recruited a GySgt., near their Dover, DE plant to pick them up.  We then made arrangements for the Gunny to  deliver them to Dover AFB for a flight heading to Afghanistan.
 
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE MARINE CORPS                               Buddy Sklar
 
Many of us are not able to personally visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps, due to time or distance.  On 23 June, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation officially launched the NMMC new state-of-the-art Virtual Experience so that we can sit at our computers and view the most beautiful and exciting museum of American History as seen through the eyes of the Marine Corps. The following article by Sara Neumann says it best.  I suggest you sit down at your computer and take time to enjoy and learn from this wonderful experience.  And, if you don’t have a computer ask someone who does to show you this incredible experience.
 
MARINE CORPS HERITAGE FOUNDATION CREATES CUJTTING EDGE WEB MUSEUM.    Through a series of high-definition, 360 degree panoramic tours, audio narratives and extensive multi-media presentations visitors to the web site will experience as if they’re actually there. Virtual Experience includes:
 
         ORAL HISTORY RECORDINGS
         WALKING TOUR NARRATIVES
         ZOOMABLE HD PHOTOS OF SPECIAL EXHIBITS
         INTERACTIVE 3-D MODELS OF AIRCRAFT AND OTHER ARTIFACTS
 
“In today’s economy and with Marines deployed around the world, Marines don’t always have the opportunity to visit their National Museum,” said LtGen Ron Christmas, President of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.  Unable to visit the NMMC in person, Marine Steven Wallace of Beverly Hills conceived the idea to create a digital version of the museum.  “I am very proud and extremely pleased to have been associated with the development of the Virtual Experience” said Steven Wallace, a Founder of the MCHF. “This experience tells the story of our Marine Corps and how important they are to the safety and security of the United States. It is truly a history of the United States trough the eyes of the Marine Corps.  I hope online visitors to the Museum will enjoy the experience.  Semper Fi”.
 
Take a tour of the NMMC Virtual Experience by visiting www.VirtualUSMCMuseum.com
 
Dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Marine Corps history, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation was established in 1979.  If you are not a member, please visit their website: www.marineheritage.org or telephone
800 397-7585.
 
 
“The United States is the only country with a known birthday“.  James C. Blaine
 
BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! 
 
Semper Fi
 
 
Jim Sullivan,
Editor
 
 
Officers & Directors:
 Quint Villanueva, President                                    Jim Sullivan, Sec /Treas.  Dick Partee, Director       Henry Sanchez, Director      George Stettler, Director