Dubuque Detachment Marine Corps League - 1976 representation for Iowa Day Bicentennial celebrationDubuque Detachment
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
INCORPORATED BY ACT OF CONGRESS
April 1, 1976
Honorable Mayor and Council Members
City Hall
Dubuque, IA 52001
Gentlemen:
DUBUQUE, IOWA
This letter is to request permission to appear in front of the
Council for the purpose of requesting funds for the Dubuque Detach-
ment of the Marine Corps League 1776 Color Guard. The funds would
be used for expenses to send the Color Guard to Philadelphia. The
1776 Color Guard has been asked to represent the state of Iowa
on "Iowa Day" in Philadelphia, April 24, 1976.
As part of the national Bicentennial celebration, each state
has been dedicated with its own day in which it will be honored
in ceremonies with its own representatives. Until now, Iowa was
one of only three states who did not have any representatives.
With what information we have received, the agenda in Phil-
adelphia is as follows: on the morning of Friday, April 23, 1976,
we are to appear on a national talk show (the Joe Spivac Show).
We understand the show is doing a series of shows on the Bicentennial.
Saturday, April 24, 1976 is "Iowa Day". In the morning there is to
be a ceremony in Independence Hall, then that afternoon there is
to be a ceremony in Independence Mall.
We have figured the total expenses for our seven people to be
in excess of $1000.00. We would hope to receive funds in the
amount of $250.00 to $300.00 from the Council. Naturally, we would
appreciate any amount.
We feel that we are a unique outfit and would well represent
Dubuque and the state of Iowa.
Please find attached an information sheet with more detailed
information about our Color Guard. Thank you.
Motion at meeting of April 12, 1976
Grant of $750. was approved to be
taken out of the Bicentennial Fun
cc: City Manager
Yours very truly,
yq��J 11�
Gary W Horn
Commandant, Dubuque Detachment
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
"ONCE A 21 -BRINE, ALWAYS A MARINE"
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
DUBUQUE DETACHMENT
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
1776 MARINE CORPS COLOR GUARD
All (7) seven members of the colorguard are active Marine
Corps League members.
The Marine Corps League was incorporated by an Act of Congress.
Membership is restricted to Marines on active duty or Honorably
discharged from active service. We are a non-profit service
organization.
The uniforms are 1775-1776 Marine officers uniforms. They
are exact in every way possible; type of material, color, stitching,
buttons and patterns. To put them together, many months of reserch
was needed to assure everything was authentic. The leather neck
and sword belt were all hand made to insure an authentic reproduction.
Our swords are exact replicas of the Bunker Hill sword used at that
time. Our muskets are the Charleville Musket bought by the French
from a Belguim armory and given to the American Revolutionaries.
Our muskets were made by the same armory in Belguim and all the
brass parts on the muskets were made in 1775.
The seven members are: Gary Horn, who is the Commandant of
the local detachment, Frank Connelly, Bob Hooper, Gus Norlin,
Ron Putbreese, Bill Luchsinger and Jim Burgus.
We have been invited by the National Bicentennial Committee
to participate in every major bicentennial event in the country.
On April 6th we have been invited by the Governor to lead the
Bicentennial Wagon Train into Des Moines, to present the colors
for a joint opening of the House and Senate, and to participate
in other miscellaneous events of the day. On April 12th we are to
lead the Wagon Train into Waterloo. There are many requests
from out of town that, due to a lack of funds, have to turned
down.
Our publicity has been great. This month we had a full
page article in the Midwest Reporter, next month there will be
an aricle in Leatherneck magazine, after which all the pictures
and information will be releade to the Associated Press and
United Press. We have already had pictures and articles published
in Dubuque, Des Moines, Ames and in Lincoln Nebraska.
Attached are copies of some of the pictures and articles
that have already been published,
Dubuque M.C. Lea:ue goes colonial
HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE
SAM!! Your Marine Corps cele-
brated it's 200th Birthday in 1975,
so we know what a joyous occasion
a Bicentennial can be.
In the past 200 years the only
thing that's changed about the
best weapon in your defense sys-
tem has been its uniform. In Du-
buque, Iowa there is a proud de-
tachment of the Marine Corps
League, and they have come up
with something special to help
you celebrate a magnificent 200
years.
The Dubuque Detachment of
the League was formed in Septem-
ber 1963, with an idea first ad-
vanced by Marine recruiter, SSgt
Angelo Rainaldi (now first ser-
geant, retired). Under his guid-
ance preliminary meetings were
held during that summer.
The Marine Corps League, an
exclusive Marine veterans orga-
nization, obviously has a power-
ful appeal to honorably discharged
Marines. The Dubuque Detach-
ment was formed to assist any
Marine or former Marine in what-
ever way possible. It also lends
support to youth organizations
who are in need of help. The Du-
buque Detachment has given both
money and time to the Retarded
Childrens Organization, a color
TV set to the Veterans Hospital
in Iowa City, Iowa, and a flag to
the Junior Drum Corps. These,
and many other involvements, are
just a part of the civic projects of
the Dubuque Detachment
Commandant of the Dubuque
Detachment, Gary Horn, conceived
the idea during 1975, of a special
color guard made up of members
of the Dubuque Detachment. This
10
YANKEE DOODLE DANDY —
Mr. Gary Horn, Commandant
of the Dubuque chapter of the
Marine Corps League, models
the continental Marine uniform
his chapter had made for upcom-
ing bicentennial celebrations.
color guard would be attired in
authentic 1776 Marine Corps uni-
forms, complete with leatherneck
collars, and be available for vari-
ous public events during 1976.
The word went out, and after
several months of exhaustive ef-
fort, the necessary literature and
patterns for the 1775-1776 Marine
Corps uniforms were obtained. A
seamstress from Dubuque, Lynn
Volkert, tackled the pilot uniform,
fitting to Gary. The exact colors
and proper material (including
buttons) were procured. When
the uniform had been completed
it was donned by Gary, and pic-
tures were taken with Marine Re-
cruiter, SSgt Ralph Swartz, to
show the contrast between the
1776 and 1976 uniforms. These
pictures appeared in area news-
papers and drew a great deal of
favorable comment.
The uniform was displayed at
the 200th anniversary Marine
Corps birthday ball. After the
ball, Commandant Horn began
interesting other members of the
Detachment in these uniforms
and the possible formation of a
color guard. Six men immediately
came forward and at their own
expense ordered not only the uni-
forms, but authentic Charleville
muskets, as well. These muskets
were produced by the same arms
works in. Liege, Belgium, as pro-
duced the originals, and because
they still had some parts left over
after 200 years, they were pro-
duced with about 75% authentic
pieces. To round out the uniform
of the day, replica powder horns
and sabres were procured. All in
all, the Color guard, accompanied
by their fife and drummer, made
a striking group. Members are:
Gary Horn, Jim Burgus, William
Luchinger, Frank Connelly, of
Dubuque, and Ron Putbrese and
C. L. "Gus" Norlin of Monticello,
Iowa.
Towns, groups, or organiza-
tions interested in obtaining the
services of this unique Color
Guard may contact Detachment
Commandant, Mr. Gary Horn,
524 Fenelon Place, Dubuque, Iowa
52001, or call (319) 582-3264.
12 Telegraph Herald, Dubuque, Iowa, Thursday, Nov. 6, 1975
MARINE Staff Sgt. Ralph Schwartz, left, and Marine
Corps League Commandant Gary Horn compare 1975
and 1775 Marine uniforms. The Marine Corps League
w91 observe its bicentennial birthday Saturday in the
forum ballroom of the Julien Motor Inn. The program
will include cocktails from 6 to 7 p.m., dinner and
ceremonies from 7 to 9 and dancing from 9 to 1 a.m.
8A / DES MOINES REGISTER
II Wed., Nov. 5, 1975
A real `leatherneck' in Dubuque
Marine Staff Sgt. Ralph Schwartz, left, a recruiter at Dubuque, and Gary Horn, a former
Marini from Dubuque, show the contrast between the present day Marine uniform and the
first uniform used by the corps in 1775. Horn, commandant of the Dubuque detachment of
the Marine Corps League, had his uniform made to help celebrate the corps' 200th birthday
Nov. 10. lie plans to have the uniform on dis play at his unit's birthday ball Saturday night.
The moss -green and white outfit has a leather stock or scarf to brotect the neck from
flailing swords or bayonets. Horn said the Marine nickname is derived fram the ztocks. In
the background is the old shot tower, which was used to make gun shot during the Civil
War.