Actor R. Lee Ermey to Headline Feb. 11 Press Conference

Washington D.C. – Feb. 8, 2010 – When a soldier, airman or sailor dies in conflict, families receive letters from the Army, Air Force or Navy. When a Marine dies, the family receives a letter from the Department of the Navy.

The Marine Corps League will hold a press conference Feb. 11 in Washington D.C. to announce legislation and a grassroots campaign that would change this—and give Marines equal status with the Navy.

The conference will be held 10:30 A.M. in Room 122 at the Cannon House Office Building. Press and interested parties are invited to attend.

Speaking at the conference will be:

• R. Lee Ermey, 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 injury, 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, a bill that would change the name of the Department of the Navy to the “Department of the Navy and Marine Corps” and change the title of the Secretary of the Navy to the “Secretary of the Navy and Marine Corps”.
• 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.

Rep. Jones’ bill has garnered supporters including former Secretary of the Navy Lawrence Garrett, FedEx founder Fred Smith and Col. Oliver North.

“Marines have fought and died with their Navy brothers and sisters for more than 200 years,” Blum said. “It’s finally time to give the Marine Corps the recognition the branch has long deserved.”