Gen. Smedley D. Butler Detachment Scholarship Awards

On Tuesday, June 6, the Gen. Smedley D. Butler Detachment, Marine Corps League, held its Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner at the banquet hall of the Mater Dei Council of the Knights of Columbus in Newtown Square. Each year the Detachment presents scholarship awards. The scholarships are presented to outstanding college students who are family of Detachment and/or Auxiliary members. Following an enjoyable dinner for the members, awardees and their guests, and led by the Detachment’s Scholarship Committee Chair Wayne Williams and the Auxiliary’s Scholarship Chair Beth Herbst, the scholarships were awarded to 11 students by the Detachment and to 5 students by the Auxiliary. Each scholarship awardee was requested to tell the audience about himself or herself including their school and course of study. After doing so, all expressed their gratitude to the Detachment or the Auxiliary, their family sponsor, and also thanked the Detachment members for our military service to our country.

Following the scholarship awards, the Detachment held its regular monthly meeting. Jim Pierson, a U.S. Navy veteran, took the Marine Corps League oath as an Associate Member. Welcome to the Detachment, Jim.

The Marine Corps League was founded in 1923 by WWI Marine hero then Maj. Gen. and Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, John A. Lejeune. Today the League boasts of a membership in excess of 76,000. Its sponsored programs include Marines Helping Marines, the Youth Physical Fitness Program, the Young Marines of the Marine Corps League, the Veterans Service Officer Program, the Marine Corps League Auxiliary, the Toys for Tots program, the Adopt-a-Highway program, and several scholarships.

U.S. Marine Corps General Smedley D. Butler was born in West Chester and lived much of his adult life in Newtown Square. He spent many of his final years lecturing throughout the country on behalf of veterans’ causes and good government. The general was one of only two U.S. Marines awarded two Medals of Honor for heroism in two distinct military actions.

The above photos depict: 1. The Detachment scholarship awardees with the Detachment officers; 2. The Auxiliary scholarship awardees with Beth Herbst on the left; 3. Commandant Dominic D'Alessandro administering the membership oath to Jim Pierson.