Veterans' Recognition at Highgate at Paoli Pointe

On Saturday, November 12, four members of the General Smedley D. Butler Detachment, Marine Corps League, proceeded to Highgate at Paoli Pointe to recognize veterans residing at the Senior Living facility. Attending from the Detachment were Earle Drake, Jim Mulhern, John Cook, and John Burfete.

The event was moderated by Marine Earle Drake. Earle gave a short history of the Marine Corps League and then introduced Marine Jim Mulhern to describe his experience as a Marine officer in Vietnam. Jim was the commanding officer of a transport company in 1966 whose duty was to transport ammunition and supplies through Viet Cong territory to outlying Marine posts. Jim was awarded the Navy Commendation for Combat VALOR among other awards. Next, Earle introduced Marine John Cook. A well respected Korean War historian, John spent 6 years on active duty with the Marines, some immediately after WWII and then in combat in Korea during that United Nations "police activity". There John served under legendary Marine Gen. Lewis "Chesty" Puller, the most decorated Marine in history.

The first photo depicts a panoramic view of the gathering with Marines Drake, Mulhern and Cook left to right. The second photo depicts the Marines in the same order with John Cook making his presentation. The third photo depicts a few of the veterans residing at Highgate. The fourth depicts Marine Mulhern speaking to the gathering.