.png)
This last year has been filled with many opportunities to assist our Marine community and support our active duty and reserve Marine components. It is my privilege to share with you some of the things we have been doing. Our overall focus has been, and remains to be, supporting our Oklahoma Marine community and your continued trust and confidence in our efforts allows us to achieve this goal.
Last year we introduced our new Council Donor/Sponsorship Program. Over the years we have been very fortunate to have some very generous and faithful sponsors who have made many of our efforts possible; BancFirst, the Copeland family, Arvest Bank and Tinker Federal Credit Union to mention only a few. With the incorporation of the Donor/Sponsorship Program we have been able to broaden our financial support base and ensure our stability for the future.
As we had hoped, the program was very well received by our many friends and members and last year at the annual luncheon we recognized Harold Copeland and the Copland Family as our Founding Donor and BancFirst as our Founding Sponsor. We were also vary honored to have Mr. Bob Staples become our very first “Semper Fi Circle” donor”. Additionally we had six “First to Fight” sponsors and donors, one “Devil Dog”, four “Leathernecks” and ten “Jar head” donors; who will be recognized at our Annual Meeting. Without these very generous financial supporters we would not be able to continue our support efforts to the Oklahoma Marine community.
With this support, the Council continues to have the means to support our Marine units and organizations. Highlights of your Council’s activities include:
Sponsoring 65 cadets and Marines from our supported units to attend the annual luncheon, this includes JROTC cadets from local high schools, “poolies” from the Recruiting Stations, and junior Marines from the various units across the state. We believe this is one of most valuable programs we offer, it allows young men and women to learn about responsibility and citizenship, and experience camaraderie with former Marines and their families..
Sponsorship of the Community Service awards for both the Anti-Tank Training Unit in Broken Arrow and BTRY F, 2/14 in Oklahoma City, which are presented to both a reserve and active duty Marine in each unit in recognition of outstanding community support.
Support for our three Marine Corps High School JROTC program in the state through sponsorship of transportation to drill and marksmanship events, unit t-shirts and sponsored seats at the annual luncheon.
Support for the Fort Sill’s Marine Detachment Devil Dog run by funding the medallions awarded following the race. This program provides a tremendous community outreach to the Lawton Fort Sill Community.
· Support for Tulsa Medal of Honor Day Ceremony, sponsored by Albert E. Schwab Det #857 of the Marine Corps League. The Council sponsors Marine units to provide static displays for the event
And one of our most sought after incentive awards, sponsorship of Oklahoma City Thunder basketball tickets to Marines as incentive awards for superior performance. These tickets are by far and away the most positively received Council program.
I know we sent information about the sponsorship program out in last year’s newsletter, but we have received many inquirers about the program following the Birthday luncheon so I have enclosed information about the Donor/Sponsorship Program again in this year’s newsletter.
This year’s luncheon will be held on Friday, the 8nd of November 2019, at the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club located at 7000 NW Grand Blvd., Nichols Hills. More details will follow as we get closer to the luncheon, but I can assure you that we will do our best to honor our Marine Corps and Marines during this the event.
Semper Fidelis,Anthony J. (AJ) JohnsonColonel USMC (Ret)President
US Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Oklahoma, Inc.
Comments