R.
Lee Ermey to Lobby Congress on Adding Marine Corps Name to
Department of Navy
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,
http://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.”
For more
information on the conference, rally or legislation, go to the
Marine Corps Identity Cause website at
www.marinecause.com.
When
things go wrong the Gunny sounds off LOUD AND CLEAR!
