R. Lee Ermey to Lobby Congress on Adding Marine Corps Name to Department of Navy
Marine Corps League Press Conference, Rally Slated for Feb. 25
Washington D.C. – Feb. 19, 2010 – Full Metal Jacket star R. Lee Ermey and the Marine Corps League will hold a press conference Thursday, Feb. 25, in Washington D.C. to announce legislation and a grassroots campaign to give Marines equal status with the Navy.
The conference will be held 3 PM in 1334 Longworth House Office Building. The conference was previously scheduled for another time.
Ermey will also appear at a rally at 5 PM at Bullfeathers of Capitol Hill restaurant. Press and interested parties are invited to attend.
The legislation, H.R. 24 and S.504, would change the name of the Department of the Navy to the “Department of the Navy and Marine Corps” and the Secretary of the Navy to the “Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps.” It would not create a separate department.
Speaking at the conference will be:
- R. Lee Ermey, aka “Gunny,” a Golden Globe-nominated actor and Marine veteran. Ermey is host of The History Channel’s “Mail Call” and “Lock N’ Load with R. Lee Ermey” and star of major films including Full Metal Jacket, Dead Man Walking and Toy Story.
- Sgt. Eddie Wright, a Marine veteran and Bronze Star recipient who lost both hands in combat in Iraq in 2004. Despite his injuries, he became a Marine Corps hand-to-hand combat instructor, later retired, and is now a defense contractor.
- Dick Linn, a Gold Star father who lost his son Karl in Iraq in 2005.
- U.S. Rep Walter Jones, who introduced H.R. 24.
- Tracy Della Vecchia, MarineParents.com founder and executive director. Her website has 130,000-plus members and provides support for parents of Marines.
- Michael Blum, Marine Corps League executive director.
The Marine Corps operates under the Department of the Navy. Families of Marines who die in combat receive condolence letters on Navy letterhead—with no mention of the Marine Corps.
Ermey said a major reason for his involvement with the campaign was to properly honor Marines who have fought and died in battle.
“When the family of a fallen Marine receives a condolence letter, the Marine Corps name should be proudly mentioned,” Ermey said. “I don’t think that’s too much to ask for.”
Tags: Capitol Hill restaurant, Longworth House Office Building, Marine Corps League, Marine Corps League Press, Military awards and decorations, Military personnel, Navy, R. Lee Ermey, Secretary, United States, United States Marine Corps, Washington D.C., Washington,United States
cheers for the previous entry.
Sir, I am prior service Navy. I never knew this. glad you brought it to their attention. One suggestion, put the Marine Emblem on the letterhead as well.
Dr Krypton
NAVSPEWARGRUONE
Love your “Magot” word, Gunny, heard it at MCRD as a 1953 boot.
Can’t image how you got sucked into supporting this “give use brand recognition with the Navy on the marquee. We don’t need it. The Corps is a group of armed men who do the close-up fighting for the Navy. Think back to why the cross is on the top of officer’s hats. If this goofy change is made, we will hear next that military specialties of all sort will want an official hyphenated name. SEAbees will be US Navy and Seabees. You get the idea, Gunny, just plain goofy. Just because the Corps has had Pete Pace as chairman of JCS, a first for Marine, I think, doesn’t mean we should get uppity.
Glad to see you are doing a good thing, Ronnie… I am proud of you…
Thanks Gunny for speaking for the Marines that do not get a chance to speak for our selves… in Congress
SemperFi pfc Lanny A Bentley sr
Feb 1964 thru feb 1967
got get ‘em Gunny – oo-rah Semper Fi Do or Die