The Marine Corps celebrated its 250th birthday this past Monday with numerous events, including a major celebration in Philadelphia featuring historical reenactments, parades, and the one hundredth Marine Corps Birthday Ball in the Grand Ballroom of the City of Brotherly Love’s Bellevue Hotel, site of the first anniversary ball in 1925. Other celebrations throughout the year have included special ceremonies and activities at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, a Marine Week event in

The scheduled meeting of the BVA Book Club for Wednesday evening, November 26 (Thanksgiving Eve), has been canceled due to possible conflicts with holiday preparations for the next day. The club will resume meeting sometime in December, but probably not on Wednesday, December 24, when a potential holiday conflict arises once again. Book Club Group Leader Anthony Woodson advises both current readers and those new to the book club to start and/or continue their reading

October was another busy month for the Louisiana/Mississippi Regional Group with three Braille Flag donation presentations, one in Destrehan, Louisiana, and another in the Algiers section of New Orleans on October 8 (morning and afternoon, respectively), and a third one on October 27 in the Lakeview area of New Orleans. The Destrehan presentation occurred at the St. Charles Parish Main Library. According to regional group member Gary Schoelerman, a bronze flag and identifying plaque have

National Vice President Tracy Ferro recently received a plaque and personalized Certificate of Recognition from Gulf Coast Health Care System (Biloxi, Mississippi) Director Stephanie A. Repasky, Psy.D. for his “extraordinary dedication and outstanding commitment.” The August 28 presentation and special citation highlighted specifically Tracy’s achievement of 4,000 hours of volunteer service. The certificate continues: Your tireless efforts and unwavering support have made a profound impact on the lives of our veterans. Through your selfless contributions,