The United States Marine Corps will celebrate its 242 birthday with a ball.
On Nov. 11 the birthday ball celebration, which is hosted by the Marine Corps League LCPL Chance Phelps detachment No. 1406, will take place at the Holiday Inn in Rock Springs. Cocktail hour will start at 5 p.m., the ceremony starts at 6 p.m. and dinner, dancing and socializing will take place after. All branches of the military and veterans are encouraged to attend this formal gown and military dress uniform event.
During the event, participants will get to listen to guest speaker U.S. Marine Corps Navajo code talker Samuel T. Holiday.
They will also have a chance to participate in the charity auction, gun-safe raffle and gift certificate raffle. Tickets for this event are $35 per person and are available at both the Green River and Rock Springs chambers of commerce, and the Rock Springs and Green River American Legion Posts.
Gene Bates, league officer and chairman of the birthday ball committee said, the money raised through the charity auction will go to The Waldner House, which was established for patients who travel to Rock Springs from surrounding communities and states needing lodging assistance while receiving treatment at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County or the Sweetwater Regional Cancer Center, and the Fallen Warriors Memorial Out-Camp, which is Manilla, Utah.
According to the website americanheroesproject.org, the camp’s mission is “To reduce the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and the subsequent high suicide rates by providing healing outdoor recreational therapy to America’s disabled combat veterans and their families utilizing Hand in hand Outdoor’s fleet of boats, professional captains, volunteer staff and councilors from the VA.”
Bates said one of raffle’s money raised will go toward funding the Chance Phelps scholarship program. Each year, two $1,000 scholarships are given to one student in Sweetwater County School District No. 1 and one Sweetwater County School District No. 2.
Bates said between all of the different auctions and raffles, an attendee is sure to find something they would like to try and win, including liberty guns safes, a red, Marine Corps refrigerator, a turkey cooker, artwork and trips to Wendover, Nev., and the Windriver Hotel and Casino in Riverton. They also have lots of gift certificates for local businesses.
“All the money we raise will go toward the fund and two charities,” Bates said.
Bates said he all of the money raised during this evening will go right back into the community.
“We raise our own operating funds separately from this event,” Bates said.
About the Marine Corps League
Members of the Marine Corps League join together in camaraderie and fellowship for the purpose of preserving the traditions and promoting the interests of the United States Maine Corps. The League bands together those who are now serving in the Marines and those who have been honorably discharged from that service. They strive to effectively promote the ideals of American freedom and democracy. They voluntarily aid and render assistance to all Marines, FMF Corpsmen and former Marines and FMF Corpsmen and to their widows and orphans. Members serve to perpetuate the history of the U.S. Marine Corps and observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines.
The Detachment
Chartered in May of 2013, the L/Cpl Chance Phelps Detachment No. 1406 is the newest detachment in the Department of Wyoming, Rocky Mountain Division, of the Marine Corps League. A detachment is usually named after a fallen Marine, which is why Chance Phelps name is used. Pfc. Phelps of Dubois and Clifton, Colo., was killed in action in Al Anbar, Iraq, April 9, 2004.
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