9/11 Anniversary and Afghanistan withdrawal
Due to Veterans from all eras reacting to the events in Afghanistan, such as withdrawal and take over by the Taliban, VA is working quickly to share VA resources, call center information, peer support, and other community services.
Afghanistan Letter from CMC SMMC.
Department Fall Meeting
Date -October 1st and 2nd
Location –
Crowne Plaza Suffern - Mahwah
3 Executive Blvd
Suffern, New York 10901
845-357-4800
Uniform of the Day:
Marine Corps League cover is the only required uniform item for the membership.
Department Staff: Red Polo, Black Trousers, Black Shoes, Marine Corps League Cover
Upcoming Events:
• 24-26 February 2022: National Midwinter Conference - Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, Norfolk, VA
• 23-25 February 2023: National Midwinter Conference - Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, Norfolk, VA
Great-grandson of last living WWII Medal of Honor recipient
completes Marine boot camp
Courtesy of CBS News via Frank Mathers, Mideast Adjutant
The Marine Corps Boot Camp at Parris Island, SC graduation is quite an achievement for young Marines who have conquered boot camp — but this year's graduation is truly one for the ages.
Three hundred fifty young men and women are on the final leg of a life-changing journey through Marine boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. It's been 13 grueling, sometimes brutal, weeks. And for the first time since COVID-19 hit, all family members are allowed to attend the proud moment.
In attendance for graduation is legendary Marine Hershel "Woody" Williams. At 97, he is the last living Medal of Honor recipient from World War II. Among the new Marines passing in review is his great-grandson, Cedar Ross.
"The only advice I think I gave him was to do the very best that he could and then to do a little more," Williams said. Ross was about halfway through boot camp when his drill instructor realized he was the direct descendant of a Marine legend.
"The chief drill instructor told me, 'Ross, you're going to have big shoes to fill,'" Ross told CBS News. "I said, 'Yes, sir. Thankfully, I wear size 15.'"
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/family-celebrates-legacy-of-service-as-wwii-hero-passes-the-torch/
A Family/Survivor Reference Guide for When A Veteran Dies
Paul Sutton, Chairperson of the National Legislative Affairs Committee has provided a Reference Guide for when A Veteran Dies.
Click Here to download the "A Family Survivor Reference Guide for When A Veteran Dies (03-28-2021)" document
Meeting Locations Needed
The Department of New York is seeking locations for our Mid-Winter and Spring Meetings. Any Detachment or Area wishing to be the host for one of these meeting, please contact the Adjutant at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for what is required to submit a bid.
Fall Department Meeting
Marines,
The Department of New York will be holding it's Fall Meeting on 01-02 October 2021 at the Crowne Plaza Suffern-Mahwah, located at Three Executive Boulevard, Suffern, NY 10901.
The room rate is $115.00 a night. You can book your reservation by calling the hotel at 845-357-4800, and use the group code of "MCL" You can also book your reservation online using this link: https://bit.ly/3wxbKyc. Once on this page loads, select 1 October 2021 and then click search. The room options, and group rate will be applied. To get the group rate, all reservations MUST be made on or before 10 September 2021.
The agenda will be release at a later date.
National MCL Foundation Vacancies
FROM THE DESK OF THE
NATIONAL COMMANDANT
To: National Board of Trustees,
Department Commandants
Subject: MCL Foundation, Vacancies
BOT’s, please make sure your Department Commandants get this information to all their Detachments. We are currently looking to fill 3 vacancies on the foundation.
We need members with business knowledge. If interested please send a resume to the National Commandant at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and to the foundation president, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The foundation president and his board will review each of them and the National BOT’s will vote on each.
Thank You.
Semper Fi.
Dennis Tobin
National Commandant
National Convention Delegate Registration Online
We presently have 89 detachment’s registered for delegates at National Convention. Detachments can register and pay for delegates here:
https://register.etransfer.com/cgi-bin/acct/92QK85XHPB/displayForm.pl?dir=AAC3BKB1_2021
S/F
Bob Borka
COO/HQMCL
Department Commandants Message
Members and Marines of the Department of New York,
As we approach this weekend, this weekend of Memorial Day, let us look back to those who came before and remember that Armed Forces day is for those currently in uniform, Veterans day is for those who wore the uniform, and this weekend, Memorial day is for all those who never had to chance to take it off.
Maybe we knew some, maybe we didn't, maybe we saw or heard of some who never returned. Memories you'll never forget.
Forget the sales, the parties and even the day off from work. Think about them, our Brothers and Sisters who gave all.
Lastly, ask your friends, your family, your co-workers and so on to please not wish you a happy Memorial day because there is nothing happy about it.
Be well, be safe and remember.
Thomas Wortmann
Commandant
Email Scam
Marines,
Commandant Wortmann has reported that someone is "Spoofing" his name and sending emails to his contacts, requesting that he needs money, gift cards, or similar things. He is not requesting this, and if you note, the email is not coming from his email address (look at the email address). Please disregard these requests. If its not his email address, then it is a phony.
Updated Convention Information
To All Department of New York Convention Attendee's:
By order of Commandant Wortmann, there has been a change to the Uniform of the day for the Convention. The information below replaces what is on the bottom of the current Convention Agenda. Here is the new Uniform of the Day:
Uniform of the Day: Marine Corps League cover is the only required uniform item for the membership.
Joint Opening Session: White MCL Uniform Shirts with Black or Blue Uniform Trousers, Black Shoes, Marine Corps League Cover
Memorial Service: White MCL Uniform Shirts with Black or Blue Uniform Trousers, Black Shoes, Marine Corps League Cover
Department Staff: White MCL Uniform Shirts with Black or Blue Uniform Trousers, Black Shoes, Marine Corps League Cover
Banquet: Marine Corps League Red Blazer, Black Trousers, Black Shoes; Civilian – Business Attire; Military – Class “A” or Dress Blues
Embassy Suites Informational Updates
Breakfast: The hotel will be going from "grab & go" to a hot breakfast as of 1 June 1st.
Manager's Reception: The reception will be going on in the evening Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 7pm.
Embassy Suites COVID-19 Updates
1) Face Masks: As 19 May, guests will no longer have to wear them. The Embassy Suites ask if that guests that are not vaccinated, that you wear face coverings, however, they cannot ask for proof of being vaccinated.
2) At the bar/manager's reception- we had to ask our guests to order food if they were getting drinks--this is no longer required.
3) ALL EMBASSY SUITES EMPLOYEES ARE STILL REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS
As updated information becomes available, I will send out another update.
REMINDERS
If you need a special diet, please let the Adjutant know and he will pass it along to the Caterer's. Please email your special dietary requirements to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
If you want to attend the Department Convention and have not yet made a reservation, you can still do so, based on room availability. Reservations made after May 1st, up to 3pm on the Friday of the convention, our Embassy Suites contact, Paula DeTran stated that she will assist you (and if there are rooms available, get the group rate), what she cannot guarantee is if there area any rooms available in the hotel. After 1 May, any un-booked rooms in our block will be released back into inventory. For reservations made after 1 May 2021, please contact Paula directly, either by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or her direct dial phone number at 315-703-9107.
Marine of the Year Nominations- The deadline is today. Your package must be post marked by 27 May 2021! Nominate that outstanding Marine in your Detachment!
Don't forget to submit your advance registration for the Convention! Save $2 per Marine if you pre-register!! Today is also the deadline. Your advanced registration must be post marked by the 27 May 201 to receive the advance registration price.
Call To Convention
Memorial Service for PDC William McGowan
Mrs. Sharon McGowan has announced the date for the memorial service for Department Past Commandant William McGowan. It will be held on 23 July 2021 at 10:30am at Saratoga National Cemetery. PDC Rev. Ricardo Sheppard will be in attendance to perform the MCL ritual. Sr. Vice Commandant Thomas Arcuri would like to see a good turnout by the Department.
The Cemetery is in close proximity to the Albany / Troy area. PDC Forbes will be coordinating the color guard.
Department of New York Marine of the Year
Once again, the Department of New York encourages Detachments to nominate that outstanding Marine for Department Marine of the Year. A copy of the rules for Marine of the Year can be downloaded from the Department web site.
All submissions must be addressed and mailed to the Department of New York Adjutant. It must be post marked no later than 15 days prior to the opening date of the Department of New York Convention (26 May 2021).
Submissions to be mailed to:
Marine Corps League
Attention: Marine of The Year Committee
PO Box 360
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706-0360
Marine Corps League License Plates
The New York Marine Corps License Plates forms have been updated and now available on the Department of New York Web Site.
• MCL License Plate Form (DoNY-MCLPA-REV.2.0.5.03.04.2021)
• NY State Department of Motor Vehicles Form CP-30 (9/20)
Department of New York
Spring Meeting -REMINDER!
Marines,
The Department of New York will be holding it's Spring Meeting on 16-17 April 2021 at the Crowne Plaza Suffern-Mahwah, located at Three Executive Boulevard, Suffern, NY 10901.
The room rate is $115.00 a night. You can book your reservation by calling the hotel at 845-357-4800, and use the group code of "MDL" You can also book your reservation online using this link: https://bit.ly/3rxAe7y. Once on this page loads, select 16 April 2021 and then click search. The room options, and group rate will be applied. To get the group rate, all reservations MUST be made on or before 26 March 2021.
The agenda is now available for up coming Spring Meeting.
It will also be posted to the Department web site at https://www.mclnewyork.net/
Message from the National Commandant
Marines,
1 - We are now printing our membership cards in house, so by leaving off the expiration date. Cards are good for life, we no longer have to print for existing members, only for new members, transfers and new life members, that cuts our card printing down to around 10,000 or less every year from around 30,000.
2 - Anyone who wishes to order a replacement card or just wants the new plastic can order from our website, www.mclnational.org.
3 - We are currently trying to get the company to list the expiration dates in the portal with the members name and info.
4 - All Detachment paymasters have access to the portal to verify anyone of their members. If they have been delinquent for a long period of time their name will drop off the portal page.
5 - If you have a visiting member from out of area, the fastest way to verify (if you need to) is to contact his/her Detachment paymaster or Commandant.
6 - We are now using an old but tried and true way of mailing out membership cards, they are going directly to the Detachment paymasters, this avoids having to deal with returns due to bad addresses. Hand them out at your meetings, it will also get members at your meetings, contact them and let them know you have their card, if they want it they can go to a meeting and have it presented to them.
Thanks for your support
Semper Fi,
Dennis Tobin
National Commandant
Department of New York Spring Meeting
Marines,
The Department of New York will be holding it's Spring Meeting on 16-17 April 2021 at the Crowne Plaza Suffern-Mahwah, located at Three Executive Boulevard, Suffern, NY 10901.
The room rate is $115.00 a night. You can book your reservation by calling the hotel at 845-357-4800, and use the group code of "MDL" You can also book your reservation online using this link: https://bit.ly/3rxAe7y. Once on this page loads, select 16 April 2021 and then click search. The room options, and group rate will be applied. To get the group rate, all reservations MUST be made on or before 26 March 2021. The agenda will be published at a later date. |
National Mid-Winter Conference Division Vices, Dept. Commandants, and PNC's
For anyone that does not have one, I have attached a copy of the virtual agenda. There will be a zoom Commandants council and BOT's meeting.
There will also be some live Facebook viewings. I would like to get as many members on and involved as possible, one way to accomplish that would be If Division Vices not traveling and Department and/or Detachment Commandants and PNC's if possible could pull together a group and join the zoom as a group and the same for the Facebook sessions for those that do not have Facebook. Maybe you have members that live close to one another get together for a few of the virtual sessions.
Make the flow of information a little more fluid. Any questions, please do not hesitate to call me. Semper Fi Dennis Tobin National Commandant Attachment: National Mid-Winter Conference Alternate Plan |
Department of New York 90th Annual Convention
Save The Date
The Marine Corps League - Department of New York 90th Annual Convention is tentatively set for June 10, 11, 12 at the Embassy Suites in East Syracuse, New York. Commandant Wortmann has announced that the banquet will be on the Saturday night of the Convention. Additional details will be released as information becomes available.
National Convention
THE 2021 NATIONAL CONVENTION IS IN
SPRINGFIELD, IL
Monday, August 9th through Friday, August 13, 2021
Wyndham Springfield City Centre
700 E. Adams St., Springfield, Illinois 62701
For complete details please visit the local convention committee website at:
https://mclnationalconvention2021.org/
Department of New York Marine of the Year
Once again, the Department of New York encourages Detachments to nominate that outstanding Marine for Department Marine of the Year.
A copy of the rules for Marine of the Year can be downloaded from the Department web site
Detachment Emergency Election Procedures
The Department is in receipt of newly issued Detachment Emergency Election Procedures from National Sr. Vice Commandant Johnny Baker, which announces the National Board of Trustees' policies on the Detachments Emergency Election Procedures (EEP) in the event that any Detachment cannot have a face-to-face meeting, due to COVID-19 restrictions in their local cities or states.
The Detachment Emergency Election Procedures can be downloaded from the Member Library section of the Marine Corps League Library:
https://www.mcleaguelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-MCL-Detachment-Emergency-Election-Procedures.pdf
We encourage all Detachment Commandants to download and familiarize yourself with these procedures. This Emergency Election Procedure expires on 15 May 2021.
A Message from National Commandant Dennis Tobin
|
Department of New York Mid-Winter Meeting Cancelled
Marines,
Due to the insufficient projected attendance to be able to make a quorum, the Department has cancelled the Mid-Winter Staff Meeting that was to occur on 15-16 January 2021. If you have made a reservation with the hotel, please remember to cancel it.
SAVE THE DATE: The Spring Department Meeting has been scheduled for 16-17 April 2021. Additional information to follow.
CURRENT POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE:
Marines/Members,
In light of yesterday's events at the Capitol, I want to remind all our members that as per our charter and by-laws we are a non-political organization. That means, we do not discuss politics at our meetings, events or functions or anywhere the Marine Corps League is represented. This includes all Marine Corps League social media sites, to include, National, Department, and Detachment level social media sites.
You are free to discuss anything you wish on your personal social media sites, and anywhere the Marine Corps League is not represented. Our public relations people are aware of the situation and will remove any political comments or discussions, and if necessary block people from Marine Corps League sites. Please keep your comments and discussions to your personal social media sites. We respect everyone's opinion and freedom of speech as long as it does not draw attention to the Marine Corps League.
Semper Fidelis
Dennis Tobin
National Commandant
Marine Corps League
Vaccination update from Department Commandant Wortman
Marines and members of the Department of New York,
I have received word from various New York Veterans groups that the VA's center state wide that were on the list to receive the vaccine are finally getting it. Two locations in New York City now have it, please check with your main VA center to see if they have also started to receive the vaccine.
There may or may not be a list but it does not hurt to check with your primary VA doctor. I was told by the VA that there was no list, yet three fellow NY veterans told me there was so I went back to my primaries nurse and she said "Technically there is no list but we are keeping a list of those veterans who asked for it" Marines, I strongly suggest, you ask for it.
If you are not in the VA system, I strongly suggest you get in it and use it from time to time. Don't let anyone, including the VA tell you that you are not eligible. If you served on active duty, you are eligible. In the long run this will be very beneficial to you. Even if you only get one flu shot a year, that keeps you on the active list.
Meanwhile stay safe. Wear a mask in public, wash your hands and keep away from strangers. Remember that 90% of our membership is over 65, some over 75 so just be careful and not foolish, you can only harm yourself or your loved ones.
I hope to see you at the staff meeting in Suffern. Wear a mask, and we will have hand sanitizer available. If you do not feel safe and do not wish to attend, we totally understand.
Semper Fi.
Tom Wortmann
Commandant
Marine Corps League-Department of New York