January 2013 Commandant’s Message
 

Well, a Happy New Year to all. I look forward to a good year for our detachment. 
 

It is sad to report that we lost a detachment member in December. Marion K. Bearnson, a WW II combat veteran passed away in SLC. We hope to have some type of a service for him here in St. George later this month. I remember when he gave his Marine minute a few years ago. He just said that he served in the battle of Tarawa and Saipan and he sat down.
 

he large detail last month was Toys for Tots. A large number of members came out to both Wal-Mart Stores on two weekends to man the toy boxes and the cash buckets to collect toys and cash. I understand that we did well both weekends. A Marine who is a deputy sheriff and a Marine who was a Devil Pup came out in dress blues to help. A detail along with members of the Sheriff’s Explorer Post showed up on Wednesday night to assist Coins for Kids at the Bloomington Wal-Mart Store. The proud and the few showed up again on Friday and Saturday to help deliver the toys to the families. Caroline and I went out on Friday and we both found it to be very rewarding. A friend went with me on Saturday and we took out two loads. We met a lot of nice people who appreciated the gifts.
 

I got a call from a detachment member advising me of a FLDS family that had moved into a safe house with nothing for the children. I contact Rick Massey, which was on Christmas Eve, who was still taking out gifts. After a few problems, Rick was able to deliver three bags of toys to the family that night. Rick Massey did another outstanding job this year. It was also nice to see that Mercy Wright, who was able to rejoin the detachment out to help along with Joyce Thomas who has had her own hard times. Jack Stanfill was able to fly his plane with a load of toys and school supplies to needy children in the Richfield area. The project is known as Angel Flight. Jack reported that the items were well appreciated.
 

Steve Ikuta has lined up a speaker for our January meeting who will speak on his law enforcement experiences. We had forty at the December meeting so let’s have a good showing this month. It is also time to bring any funds you have for Dixie Books you have sold. It is also time to return any books you were not able to sell. If you don’t have one for yourself, they will be available for you to purchase one to support the detachment.
 

We have delivered the challenge coins in the stand that Rick Massey made to all the people who bought ads in our Marine Corps Ball program. I can report the people that I signed up like the item very much.
 

Please do your best to attend the meeting as we also have important things to discuss.
 

Carl Kulyk, Commandant