PURPOSE OF THE MARINE CORPS
LEAGUE
To preserve the traditions, promote
the interest, and perpetuate the history of the United States Marine Corps and
by fitting acts, to observe the anniversary of historical occasions of
particular interest to Marines.
To hand those, who are now serving
and those having honorably served in the United States Marine Corps, in a
fellowship that effectively promotes the ideas of American freedom and
democracy.
To fit its members of the duties of
citizenship and to encourage them to serve ably as citizens as they have served
our nation under arms.
To hold sacred the memory of those
Marines, who died preserving our nation and that history marking their
sacrifices to our nation.
To foster love for those American
principles Marines have supported by blood and valor since the founding of the
Republic.
To maintain true allegiance to
American Institutions.
To render assistance to
currently-serving and honorably-discharged Marines in need, as well as to their
widows and orphans.
The Marine Corps League is an elite
organization of Marines and veteran Marines, who are serving or have served
their Nation honorably. Its aims are to perpetuate the traditions and spirit of
the US Marine Corps through the continuous association of Marines, who have
proudly worn the Eagle, Globe and Anchor in times of peace and
war.
The National Marine Corps League
stands in the forefront of Veterans organizations with a viable and effective
legislative program to serve your interestes and protect your benefits as an
active or veteran Marine.
MISSION STATEMENT
Members of the Marine Corps
League join together in camaraderie and fellowship for the purpose of preserving
the traditions and promoting the interests of the United States Marine Corps,
banding together those who are now serving in the United States Marine Corps and
those who have been honorably discharged from that service that they may
effectively promote the ideals of American freedom and democracy, voluntarily
aiding and rendering assistance to all Marines, FMF Corpsmen and former Marines
and FMF Corpsmen and to their widows and orphans; and to perpetuate the history
of the United States Marine Corps and by fitting acts to observe the
anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines.
HISTORY
The Marine Corps League
perpetuates the traditions and spirit of ALL Marines and Navy FMF Corpsmen, who
proudly wear or who have worn the eagle, globe and anchor of the Corps. It takes
great pride in crediting its founding in 1923 to World War I hero, then Major
General Commandant John A. Lejeune. It takes equal pride in its Federal Charter,
approved by An Act of the Seventy-Fifth Congress of the United States of America
and signed and approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 4, 1937.
The League is the only Federally Chartered Marine Corps related veterans
organization in the country. Since its earliest days, the Marine Corps League
has enjoyed the support and encouragement of the active duty and Reserve
establishments of the U. S. Marine Corps. Today, the League boasts a membership
of more than 76,000 men and women, officer and enlisted, active duty, Reserve
Marines, honorably discharged Marine Veterans and qualified Navy FMF Corpsmen
and is one of the few Veterans Organizations that experiences increases in its
membership each year.
The Marine Corps League is headed by an elected National Commandant, with 14 elected National Staff Officers who serve as trustees. The National Board of Trustees coordinates the efforts of 49 department, or state, entities and the activities of over 1100 community-based detachments located throughout the United States and overseas. The day-to-day operations of the League are under the control of the National Executive Director with the responsibility for the management and direction of all programs, activities, and affairs of the Marine Corps League as well as supervising the National Headquarters staff.
The prime authority of the League is derived from its Congressional charter and from its annual National Convention held each August in different major U.S. cities throughout the nation. It is a not-for-profit organization within the provisions of the Internal Revenue Service Code 501(c) (4), with a special group exemption letter which allows for contributions to the Marine Corps League, its Auxiliary and subsidiary units, to be tax deductible by the donor.
