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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.