Bill Text: VA SJR351 | 2013 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Virginia Senate Joint Resolution 351 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Commending the Marine Corps Association.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-03-05 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ351ER) [SJR351 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2013-SJR351-Enrolled.html

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 351 Commending the Marine Corps Association. Agreed to by the Senate, January 24, 2013 Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 1, 2013

WHEREAS, the Marine Corps Association, founded on April 25, 1913, in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, by Marines of the 2d Provisional Brigade, will proudly celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013; and

WHEREAS, Lieutenant Colonel John A. Lejeune headed the Marine Corps Association's first executive committee, and he and his fellow officers declared that the Marine Corps Association would publish the history of the Marine Corps and disseminate "... information concerning the aims, purposes and deeds of the Corps, and the interchange of ideas for the betterment and improvement of its officers and men..."; and

WHEREAS, the Marine Corps Association introduced the Marine Corps Gazette in March 1916 to establish the association as the professional organization for all Marines and to provide a venue for debating issues of importance to the Corps and disseminating military art and science to association members; and

WHEREAS, in 1976, the Leatherneck Association, publishers of Leatherneck-Magazine of the Marines, merged with the Marine Corps Association in a partnership that has proven beneficial to both organizations; and

WHEREAS, in 2009, the Marine Corps Association founded the Marine Corps Association Foundation in order to provide more support to professional programs for Marines, including awards (over 10,600 were provided in 2011 alone), battlefield studies, professional military education forums, and Commanders' Unit Libraries with books from the Commandant's Professional Reading List; and

WHEREAS, in June 2012, when the Montford Point Marines were being honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, it was the Marine Corps Association Foundation that stepped up to the plate and found funding so that each of those historic Marines could receive his own replica commemorative medal; and

WHEREAS, in its first year of existence, the Marine Corps Association boasted a membership of 91, and today there are nearly 80,000 members worldwide; and

WHEREAS, the Marine Corps Association and Foundation has done exemplary work for active duty, reserve, and wounded Marines, providing wounded Marines with the same programs as active and reserve Marines; and

WHEREAS, for 100 years, participation in the Marine Corps Association has supported active duty Marines�during peacetime and wartime; and

WHEREAS, the Marine Corps Association has made many contributions to the lives of Marines stationed throughout the world throughout its existence; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Marine Corps Association on the occasion of its 100th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Marine Corps Association as an expression of the General Assembly's congratulations and admiration for the organization's century of commitment to supporting United States Marines.