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.”