2019 Beneficiaries
Following is a summary of some events, projects, causes, and initiatives that the Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Kentucky (MCCCK) and/or its individual members have administratively, logistically, and financially supported during the year so indicated:
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- December 2019 – Provided assistance to the Kentucky Aviation Museum, Lexington, Kentucky, with the identification of an unknown donor of a Japanese “Good Luck Flag” from World War II, determined to be a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran and Glasgow, Kentucky resident, who had previously served as Commanding Officer, 45th Fighter Squadron, on Iwo Jima, thereby facilitating the return of the “Good Luck Flag” to the family of the fallen Japanese soldier.
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- December 2019 – Provided liaison support to Inspector – Instructor Staff, Echo Company, 4th Tank Battalion, Fort Knox, Kentucky, with Louisville International Airport, to include Airport Safety (Police) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA), as well the preparation and dissemination of media advisories, for the ceremonial return of the remains of PFC John R. Bayens, USMC, killed in action on November 22, 1943, during the Battle of Tarawa (World War II) for burial at Louisville, Kentucky.
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- December 2019 – Houston Mills, Jr, President, MCCCK, continues to serve on a national level with the Toys for Tots Foundation, Board of Directors, as a member of the Audit, Finance and Compensation Committee.
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- December 2019 – Cooperative acquisition of grants and individual donations from Kentucky Marines and Friends of the Corps, totaling $75,450 for the benefit of the Semper Fi Fund (SFF), all of which was matched dollar-for-dollar by the Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation, thereby resulting in $150,900 support of injured and wounded Marines nationwide. With these matched donations and grants, the Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Kentucky (MCCCK) has now been responsible, either directly or indirectly, for generating $1,449,132 in support of the SFF and its vital mission, since 2008.
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- December 2019 – Continued funding of a college or university “Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Kentucky Scholarship,” to be awarded annually to a worthy son or daughter of a Kentucky Marine, under the auspices of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (MCSF), which has been “honoring Marines by educating their children” since its inception in 1962. The Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Kentucky is proud to partner with the MCSF for the tenth consecutive year (2011-2020) in this truly important extension of its motto “Marines Serving Marines.”
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- November 2019 – Provided direct financial tuition support of five (5) wounded Kentucky Marines, enabling them and their families to participate in a physical and emotional therapeutic Wounded Warrior Deer Hunt in Woodford County, Kentucky.
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- November 2019– Funding support and cooperative partial sponsorship of annual Kentucky Marine Corps Birthday Breakfast at Lexington, Kentucky, attended by 126 active duty, reserve and veteran Marines from throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky, who honored military valor, through a keynote address by Col Gerald T. “Jerry” Cecil, USA (Ret), a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for valorous actions during the Vietnam War, who was also recognized as Guest of Honor.
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- November 2019– Funding support of Marine Corps Birthday celebrations hosted by the Marine Corps Recruiting Station Louisville (Louisville), Military Police “Alpha” Company (Lexington), and “Echo” Company, 4th Tank Battalion (Fort Knox).
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- November 2019 – Facilitated the publication of a photograph and descriptive caption of the Kentucky Marine Corps Birthday Breakfast, in an edition of “Leatherneck” magazine featuring unique celebrations of the Marine Corps Birthday throughout the Corps.
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- November 2019 – Facilitated the participation of the Marine Corps League, Kentuckiana Detachment #729 color guard and chaplain at a ceremony commemorating Veterans Day at the Episcopal Home, Louisville, Kentucky, during which military veterans of World War II and Korea, living in residence, were recognized and honored.
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- November 2019 – Presentation of an outdoor American flag to the Thoroughbred Club of America (Keeneland), Lexington, Kentucky, in gratitude for its gracious and generous hospitality in allowing the Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Kentucky to enjoy its beautiful facility for the annual Kentucky Marine Corps Birthday Breakfast.
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- September 2019 – Provided a monetary grant to the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (MCJROTC) Fern Creek High School Alumni Association, toward the establishment of a Community Foundation of Louisville endowment to be used to fund an annual academic/leadership scholarship at Fern Creek High School, honoring the service of Maj Allen D. Broussard, USMC (Ret), their long-time Senior Marine Instructor.
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- August 2019 – Honored the passing of Betty A. Jones, an MCCCK benefactress and great Friend of the Corps, with a floral funeral tribute. For many years, she and her husband, David A. Jones, championed many MCCCK causes, such as the Semper Fi Fund, Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, and the Marine Corps heritage foundation, as well as “Toys for Tots” in both Louisville and Lexington.
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- June 2019 – Provided financial support of the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program at Fern Creek High School, Fern Creek, Kentucky, to assist with travel expenses associated with an out-of-state national marksmanship competition.
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- May 2019– Funding support of Louisville Armed Forces Committee (LAFC) annual Armed Forces Day Dinner at Louisville, Kentucky, during which local military personnel of all our armed forces are recognized and honored for individual achievements associated with their respective services. Complimentary dinners are provided to representatives of the Marine Corps League, Kentuckiana Detachment; Montford Point Marine Association, Louisville Chapter; and Women Marines Association (Louisville Chapter); as well as sponsorship of a Patriot Award honoring a Louisville area “Marine of the Year.”
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- May 2019 – Funding support of academic scholarship established by Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (MCJROTC), Seneca High School, Louisville, Kentucky, in memory of LCpl Robert A. Lynch, USMC, Seneca High School, MCJROTC alumnus killed in action on July 24, 2007 in Iraq, marking the twelfth annual presentation of same since May 15, 2008.
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- April 2019 – Funding support of Officer Selection Teams (Lexington)(Cincinnati), MCRSL, sponsored and hosted Colonel “Rich” Higgins Memorial Field Meet, major officer candidate recruiting effort focusing on regional colleges and universities, to include all individual awards, primarily through a subsidizing grant, as well as dedicated award sponsorships.
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- March 2019– Funding support of the Montford Point Marine Association, Chapter #22, Louisville, Kentucky, Covington – Hagan Scholarships, awarded annually to local deserving college bound African – American students.
- February 2019– Facilitation of an external grant for the benefit of the Louisville Ice Warriors, a local ice hockey team consisting of players who have been medically retired from the armed forces due to combat related injuries and/or wounds, six (6) of whom are Marine Corps veterans.
- February 2019– Monetary grant to assist an active duty Marine Corps senior non-commissioned officer stationed at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, with transportation costs for family visitations in Kentucky.
- January 2019– Honored the tragic passing of LCpl Olivia L. Kustes, USMC, in a vehicular accident, while temporarily assigned to Marine Corps Recruiting Station Louisville, with a floral spray from the “Marine Corps Community of Kentucky,” during a formal military funeral conducted by “Echo” Company, 4th Tank Battalion, Fort Knox, Kentucky.