Marine Corps League
Herbert A. Littleton Detachment 1261
Herbert A. Littleton Detachment 1261
About Us
Herbert A. Littleton Detachment 1261
The formation of The Herbert A. Littleton Detachment 1261 is a result of a band of local citizens that served honorably in the United States Marine Corps who wanted to continue service to our community as part of a larger organization. They began meeting in October 2006 with the intention of forming a Marine Corps League Detachment in Polk County, Arkansas. After several informal meetings, interest grew and an application for charter was submitted with twenty-seven names listed requesting to become a detachment of the Marine Corps League. As part of this application it was requested that the Detachment be named the Herbert A. Littleton Detachment. This request was made as part of an effort to honor both the detachment and Herbert A. Littleton. Herbert A. Littleton was a Marine, born in Mena Arkansas, that was killed in the Korean Conflict while valiantly protecting his fellow Marines. For his brave efforts he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Through the efforts of this small group of citizens The Herbert A Littleton Detachment 1261 of the Marine Corps League was accepted by the National Office of the Marine Corps League and issued a Charter on 15 December 2006.
The League is a veteran's organization of the U.S. Marines. It is composed of Marines, former Marines, and Navy FMF Corpsmen with honorable service. It aims to perpetuate the traditions and spirit of the U.S. Marine Corps through the continuous association of Marines who served under the Eagle, Globe and Anchor at any time, in war or peace.
The one and only membership qualification to be a member of Herbert A. Littleton Detachment 1261 is honorable service in excess of 90 days in the Marines. Recently, the FMF Corpsmen who served with the Marines have been approved for Membership. This means that, regardless of rank held, regardless of when or where a Marine served, regardless of what Division or Wing or Marine Installation they may have served with, that Marine, male or female, is welcome to join.
During the first year of existence our new Detachment focused on recruiting and consolidating our organization.
During 2007, the Herbert A. Littleton Detachment took on the challenge of working with the Marine Corps Reserves to bring Toys for Tots to Polk County. Our Detachment held a Toys for Tots Telethon on the Rich Mountain Community College cable channel in 2008 and 2009. Through the Toys For Tots Program we were able to provide approximately 1,200 toys for children in our service area for Christmas 2009. Walter Gray leads this program.
From 2007 through 2009 we raised funds to erect a memorial in honor of Herbert A. Littleton at the Polk County Courthouse. We worked with the community to fund the Herbert A. Littleton Memorial and to plan and organize the dedication ceremony. The memorial is now in place at the Polk County Courthouse. The dedication ceremony was a great success with notable speakers and much local support.
We manned a food concession at the Lum and Abner Days Festivities 2008 and 2009. Money from this activity was contributed toward the Herbert A. Littleton Memorial project.
We hosted the 2008 State Convention of the Marine Corps League.
2009 was a very busy year for our Detachment. The following summarizes important events for the year.
We created a Detachment postcard featuring Herbert A. Littleton. These cards will be used as a communications device for the Detachment.
Our Detachment completed negotiations with local Boy Scout Troops and are officially an Eagle Scout Awards Program presenter for Citizenship Awards when a Boy Scout receives his Eagle Scout Status. Junior Vice Commandant Chris Irons heads up this program for the Detachment.
We conducted a fundraiser offering chances at a drawing for a 12 gauge shotgun. The money from this project will go toward purchasing a new Marine Corps League Detachment Banner. The drawing for the Shotgun was held December 16, 2009 and raised $1,300 toward this project.
The 234th Marine Corps Birthday Ball was held at the Ouachita Country Club on November 7, 2009, from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. Mr. Chris Irons leads this Detachment activity. We had over 60 people attend the Ball. The Ouachita Strings Ensemble played, Mr. James Tarver and his wife provided oldie but goodie entertainment, the RMCC Honor Society and Student Government Association Members served the meal and Mr. Erick Keeter was our Chef.
Our Detachment provided bell ringers in support of the Salvation Army Programs as we have since 2007.
We are currently working on a program to implement a Detachment Proper Flag Collection and Disposal Program.
The formation of The Herbert A. Littleton Detachment 1261 is a result of a band of local citizens that served honorably in the United States Marine Corps who wanted to continue service to our community as part of a larger organization. They began meeting in October 2006 with the intention of forming a Marine Corps League Detachment in Polk County, Arkansas. After several informal meetings, interest grew and an application for charter was submitted with twenty-seven names listed requesting to become a detachment of the Marine Corps League. As part of this application it was requested that the Detachment be named the Herbert A. Littleton Detachment. This request was made as part of an effort to honor both the detachment and Herbert A. Littleton. Herbert A. Littleton was a Marine, born in Mena Arkansas, that was killed in the Korean Conflict while valiantly protecting his fellow Marines. For his brave efforts he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Through the efforts of this small group of citizens The Herbert A Littleton Detachment 1261 of the Marine Corps League was accepted by the National Office of the Marine Corps League and issued a Charter on 15 December 2006.
The League is a veteran's organization of the U.S. Marines. It is composed of Marines, former Marines, and Navy FMF Corpsmen with honorable service. It aims to perpetuate the traditions and spirit of the U.S. Marine Corps through the continuous association of Marines who served under the Eagle, Globe and Anchor at any time, in war or peace.
The one and only membership qualification to be a member of Herbert A. Littleton Detachment 1261 is honorable service in excess of 90 days in the Marines. Recently, the FMF Corpsmen who served with the Marines have been approved for Membership. This means that, regardless of rank held, regardless of when or where a Marine served, regardless of what Division or Wing or Marine Installation they may have served with, that Marine, male or female, is welcome to join.
During the first year of existence our new Detachment focused on recruiting and consolidating our organization.
During 2007, the Herbert A. Littleton Detachment took on the challenge of working with the Marine Corps Reserves to bring Toys for Tots to Polk County. Our Detachment held a Toys for Tots Telethon on the Rich Mountain Community College cable channel in 2008 and 2009. Through the Toys For Tots Program we were able to provide approximately 1,200 toys for children in our service area for Christmas 2009. Walter Gray leads this program.
From 2007 through 2009 we raised funds to erect a memorial in honor of Herbert A. Littleton at the Polk County Courthouse. We worked with the community to fund the Herbert A. Littleton Memorial and to plan and organize the dedication ceremony. The memorial is now in place at the Polk County Courthouse. The dedication ceremony was a great success with notable speakers and much local support.
We manned a food concession at the Lum and Abner Days Festivities 2008 and 2009. Money from this activity was contributed toward the Herbert A. Littleton Memorial project.
We hosted the 2008 State Convention of the Marine Corps League.
2009 was a very busy year for our Detachment. The following summarizes important events for the year.
We created a Detachment postcard featuring Herbert A. Littleton. These cards will be used as a communications device for the Detachment.
Our Detachment completed negotiations with local Boy Scout Troops and are officially an Eagle Scout Awards Program presenter for Citizenship Awards when a Boy Scout receives his Eagle Scout Status. Junior Vice Commandant Chris Irons heads up this program for the Detachment.
We conducted a fundraiser offering chances at a drawing for a 12 gauge shotgun. The money from this project will go toward purchasing a new Marine Corps League Detachment Banner. The drawing for the Shotgun was held December 16, 2009 and raised $1,300 toward this project.
The 234th Marine Corps Birthday Ball was held at the Ouachita Country Club on November 7, 2009, from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. Mr. Chris Irons leads this Detachment activity. We had over 60 people attend the Ball. The Ouachita Strings Ensemble played, Mr. James Tarver and his wife provided oldie but goodie entertainment, the RMCC Honor Society and Student Government Association Members served the meal and Mr. Erick Keeter was our Chef.
Our Detachment provided bell ringers in support of the Salvation Army Programs as we have since 2007.
We are currently working on a program to implement a Detachment Proper Flag Collection and Disposal Program.
Marine Corps League
A Brief History
The Marine Corps League perpetuates the traditions and spirit of ALL Marines and Navy FMF Corpsmen, who proudly wear or who have worn the eagle, globe and anchor of the Corps. It takes great pride in crediting its founding in 1923 to World War I hero Major General Commandant John A. Lejeune. It takes equal pride in its Federal Charter, approved by An Act of the Seventy-Fifth Congress of the United States of America and signed and approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 4, 1937. The League is the only Federally Chartered Marine Corps related veterans organization in the country. Since its earliest days, the Marine Corps League has enjoyed the support and encouragement of the active duty and Reserve establishments of the U. S. Marine Corps. Today, the League bosts a membership of nearly 61,000 men and women, officers and enlisted, active duty, Reserve Marines, Honorably Discharged Marine Veterans and qualified Navy FMF Corpsmen and is one of the few Veterans Organizations that experiences increases in membership each year.
The Marine Corps League is headed by an elected National Commandant, with 14 elected National Staff Officers who serve as trustees. The National Board of Trustees coordinates the efforts of 48 department, or state, entities and the activities of over 900 community-based detachments located throughout the United States and overseas. The day-to-day operations of the League are under the control of the National Executive Director with the responsibility for management and direction of all programs, activities, and affairs of the Marine Corps League as well as supervising the National Headquarters staff.
The prime authority of the League is derived from its Congressional charter and from its annual National Convention held each August in different major U. S. cities throughout the nation. It is a not-for-profit organization within the provisions of the Internal Revenue Service Code 501(c) (4), with special group exemption letter which allows for contributions to the Marine Corps League, its Auxiliary and subsidiary units, to be tax deductible by the donor.
A Brief History
The Marine Corps League perpetuates the traditions and spirit of ALL Marines and Navy FMF Corpsmen, who proudly wear or who have worn the eagle, globe and anchor of the Corps. It takes great pride in crediting its founding in 1923 to World War I hero Major General Commandant John A. Lejeune. It takes equal pride in its Federal Charter, approved by An Act of the Seventy-Fifth Congress of the United States of America and signed and approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 4, 1937. The League is the only Federally Chartered Marine Corps related veterans organization in the country. Since its earliest days, the Marine Corps League has enjoyed the support and encouragement of the active duty and Reserve establishments of the U. S. Marine Corps. Today, the League bosts a membership of nearly 61,000 men and women, officers and enlisted, active duty, Reserve Marines, Honorably Discharged Marine Veterans and qualified Navy FMF Corpsmen and is one of the few Veterans Organizations that experiences increases in membership each year.
The Marine Corps League is headed by an elected National Commandant, with 14 elected National Staff Officers who serve as trustees. The National Board of Trustees coordinates the efforts of 48 department, or state, entities and the activities of over 900 community-based detachments located throughout the United States and overseas. The day-to-day operations of the League are under the control of the National Executive Director with the responsibility for management and direction of all programs, activities, and affairs of the Marine Corps League as well as supervising the National Headquarters staff.
The prime authority of the League is derived from its Congressional charter and from its annual National Convention held each August in different major U. S. cities throughout the nation. It is a not-for-profit organization within the provisions of the Internal Revenue Service Code 501(c) (4), with special group exemption letter which allows for contributions to the Marine Corps League, its Auxiliary and subsidiary units, to be tax deductible by the donor.
Mission Statement
Members of the Marine Corps League join together in camraderie and fellowship for the purpose of preserving the traditions and promoting the interests of the United States Marine Corps, banding together those who are now serving in the United States Marine Corps and those who have been honorably discharged from that service that they may effectively promote the ideals of American freedom and democracy, voluntarily aiding and rendering assistance to all Marines and former Marines and to their widows and orphans; and to perpetuate the history of the United States Marine Corps and by fitting acts to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines.
Members of the Marine Corps League join together in camraderie and fellowship for the purpose of preserving the traditions and promoting the interests of the United States Marine Corps, banding together those who are now serving in the United States Marine Corps and those who have been honorably discharged from that service that they may effectively promote the ideals of American freedom and democracy, voluntarily aiding and rendering assistance to all Marines and former Marines and to their widows and orphans; and to perpetuate the history of the United States Marine Corps and by fitting acts to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines.
