Marine Corps Band, HBQN, 1st Marine Division
The WWII Veteran’s Recognition Committee was chaired by Bill Moynihan of the City of Mission Viejo Marine Adoption Committee and Military Veterans Club of Costa del Sol. Other committee members included:
Elks Lodge: Shari Scott (Veterans Committee Chair) and Andy Dumont (Veterans Committee member);
City of Mission Viejo Marine Adoption Committee: Anna T Boyce, Barbara Liddy and Bruce Hunt;
Military Veterans Club of Costa del Sol: Ronald Singer;
Veterans of Foreign Wars (“VFW”) 6024: Richard Kelley, Post Commander; and
American Legion: Mike Waugh.
Other groups that supported this event included: VFW Ladies Auxiliary 6024, Mission Viejo Lions Club, Palmia Military Veterans Club, VFW Post 6024. Many other individuals too numerous to list here also made this event possible.
The Master of Ceremony for the luncheon program was a thirty (30) year veteran of radio and television and Elks Lodge member, Ed Mackey. The program was opened with the bugle, “Call to Colors”, played by Elks Lodge member Ray Mallen followed by the presentation of colors by the U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard, HQBN, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton.
WWII Navy Veteran Mike Holohan (Elks Lodge Past Exalted Ruler)with his wife Mary
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Richard Kelley, Post Commander of VFW 6024.
Dawn Wright, anthem singer for the Angels and Ducks, sang the Star Spangled Banner followed by the invocation by the Military Chaplain, Lt. Gregorio Huerta, Military Chaplin, HQBN, 1st Marine Division. Mission Viejo Mayor Frank Ury introduced event dignitaries and the keynote speaker, Colonel Joseph Russell (promoted that day), Commanding Officer, HQBN, 1st Marine Division. Colonel Russell is the recipient of the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal and Combat Action Ribbon.
The lunch was served by ten young boys brought by the Elks Lodge with lunch drinks donated by Laura Lumley, Elks Lodge member. Guests were entertained by the Aloha Strummers with Hawaiian music and hula dancers and by the Good Times Singers with pianist Andrew Van Vlear. After lunch, the back doors to the Sycamore Room were opened so the event guests could listen to and enjoy the Marine Corps Band, HBQN, 1st Marine Division which was formed in the early years of WWII. The group functioned as a security platoon at Camp Fallujah, Iraq from February 2006 to January 2007. They perform more than 400 times per year at a variety of functions. Dawn Wright also sang God Bless America, America the Beautiful and God Bless the USA.
Mission Viejo officials attending the event were: Frank Ury, Mayor, Rhonda Reardon, Mayor Pro Tem, City Manager, Dennis Wilberg and city council members Trish Kelley, Dave Leckness and Cathy Schlicht.
The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge No. 2444, celebrating forty-two (42) years of service to the Saddleback Valley communities, is one of ten lodges in the Orange Coast District of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) whose headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois. The BPOE is a charitable organization with a 144 year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.”
Hal Mattson, Lodge Publicity
Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444
