The bill, S. 504, proposes to change the name of the Department of the Navy to the “Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.” The House version of the bill on May 4 unanimously passed after receiving more co-sponsors than any legislation introduced in the history of Congress—426. In order to become law, though, it must pass the Senate.

Nearly half of the senators on the Senate Armed Services Committee—where S. 504 will likely have to pass through—have co-sponsored the bill.

“Our quest to give the Marine Corps equal recognition with the Navy is finally in the homestretch,” said Mike Blum, executive director of the Marine Corps League. “Ninety-eight percent of the House agrees that our Marines fighting overseas deserve this. Now, it’s time for the Senate to come onboard.”

For over two centuries, the Marine Corps has fought side by side with the Navy. However, the Marine Corps name is not mentioned at the department level or even in the letterhead of condolence letters sent to the families of fallen Marines.

Driven largely by this fact, Marine Corps Identity Cause has attracted powerful supporters including actor R. Lee Ermey, Gens. Alfred Gray and Anthony Zinni and former Secretary of the Navy Lawrence Garrett.

S. 504 was introduced by Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts. North Carolina Rep. Walter Jones, who introduced the House bill, has been trying to get Congress to give the Marine Corps equal recognition with the Navy for nearly 10 years.

A list of Senate co-sponsors can be found at http://www.marinecause.com/senate-supporters/.

Washington D.C. – Feb. 10, 2010 – The Marine Corps League will hold a press conference Thursday, Feb. 25, in Washington D.C. to announce legislation that would give the Marines Corps equal status with the Navy.The event was originally scheduled for Feb. 11 but is being postponed due to inclement weather.

The conference will now be held at 5 P.M. in Room 122 at the Cannon House Office Building. Press and interested parties are invited to attend.

Still tapped to headline the conference is 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 the upcoming Toy Story III. Other speakers include:

• 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.

For more information on the conference, campaign and legislation, go to the Marine Corps Identity Cause website at www.marinecause.com.

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.”