Women In Community Service Inc.

supports & promotes the UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS LEAGUE

A PURPOSE NONE CAN DISPUTE...

The purposes for which the detachment was formed are: to preserve the tradition and to promote the interests of the US Marine Corps, 2)to band together those who are now serving in the US Marine Corps and those that have been honorably discharged from that service in fellowship that they may effectively promote the ideals of American freedom and democracy, 3)to fit its members for duties of citizenship and encourage them to serve as ably as citizens as they have served the nation under arms, 4)to hold sacred the history and memory of the men who have given their lives to the nation, 5)to foster love for the priciples which they have supported by blood and valor since the founding of the Republic, 6)to maintain true allegiance to the American institutions, 7)to create a bond of comradeship between those in service and those who have returned to civilian life, 8)to aid voluntarily and to render assistance to all Marines and former Marines as well as their widows and orphans, And 9)to perpetuate the history of the US Marine Corp and by fitting acts, to observe the aniversaries of historical occasions of particular interests to the Marines.

Semper Fidelis

Honoring Those Who Have Left Us

This is a Salute to the members of Victoria Veterans Council and to individuals of other listed organizations. Most of these records came from Nelson Waitchies, "Records of funerals from 7/2/93 to 6/14/95 VFW Post 4146 and now compiled by William T. Peterson.

The men who hold us together are, the "Post Chaplains". Ernest Harsch is Chaplain of VFW Post 4146 and Victoria Veterans Council. Men who attend "military funerals" for deceased veterans are all volunteers. They receive no compensation and furnish their own transportation to and from churches, funeral homes and cemeteries. This amounts to several thousand miles of traveling per year. So we ask the citizens of Victoria County to honor their living heroes who have served them throughout the year. Listed below are only a few of the men who have attended 100 to 1,500 funerals in Victoria and surrounding counties.

Deceased Veterans Honor Roll
Arthur A. Nicholson (Bill) Bugler Post 4146 * Bill served at over 1500 funerals and 45 Memorial Day services*
Nelson Arnold, Chaplain, Post 4145
Jack Baker, Commander, Post 4146
Jesse Pendelton, Commander, Post 4146
Walter Weir, Confidant, Post 4146
Willard McManus, Commander, Post 4146
Jack M.Ringel,Marine Corp League
C.V.Milburger, VFW Post 4146
Clarence (Pinky) Hartman, Commander, Post 4146
Joe Reyna, Commander, CWV
Sam Hyak, VFW Post 4146
Jerry Milton, VFW Post 4146
Alfred Leos, VFW Post 4146

Jack Ringel Detachment #540

Jim Jackson * Joel Rodriguez * Jim Waller * Jimmy Crouch * Pedro Ramos * Dexter Eaves * Ed Salazar * Bob Graham

Disabled Veterans and Prisoners of War

J.L.Lockhart * Joe Talbott * John Delane * Magdolena Cerda * Adam Hernandez * Obery Ledbetter

Catholic War Veterans
Esmeregildo Castillo * Fedrenzio Aguirre * Manuel Magana * Manuel Martinez * Arthur Dominguez * Ralph DeLa Garza * Albert Garcia * Raymond Reyna * Fernando Castillo * Armando Salazar * David Villareal * Manuel Aguilar * Santiago Driscoll * Lorenzo Hinojosa * Victor Ybarbo * Isidore Ozuna * Chino Garcia * Manuel Ruiz * Felix Hinojosa * Antonio Moya * Manuel Moya * Frank Stryk

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4146 & American Legion Post 166

Manuel Aguilar * Wayne Dearlam * Alfred Leos * Roy Davis * Marshall Thompson * Harry Roell * Harold L.Conally * David Berger * Victor Garza * Leroy Lockhart * Harrison Raska * Emory Powitzky * Frank Roller * Bob Brecount * Justo Guerra * W.T.Peterson * James Kloesel * Elroy Hackbarth * Francis Tagliabu * Gilbert Trillius, Comander * Ernest Harsch,Chaplain *

Participating Funeral Homes

Artero
Barfield
Rosewood
McCabe Carruth
Colonial

The Price of Military Funerals

The Victoria veterans save the taxpayers a minimum of $600.00 for every funeral they perform. That is the minimum it costs the United States Government to send a detail out of Fort Sam Houston to Victoria.

Victoria Veterans Council perform 89 to 120 funerals a year in Victoria and surrounding areas. A veteran driving his car to funerals will spend $600.00 a year on gasoline.

It takes 22 men for a full military funeral. Armed forces privates receive better than $30.00 per day and require two vans to transport. - The cost can total more than $50,000.00 per year.

Service to the Community

Our members stand ready to serve the community in any way that promotes the purposes of the founding of our detachment. Those causes that foster fellowship and caring for others and especially serving those that are in need.

We have enjoyed a long time program of Toys For Tots each year around the Christmas season. Toys For Tots has been well received by those who have a heart for giving and has been very successful in dealing with some of the poverty that restricts many families and children from the tradition of gift giving.

Other activities and services include, but are not limited to, U.S. flag Ceremonies - flag raisings, presentations, and Honor Guard. Also, marching in parades and educating young people about the U.S. flag and what it represents.

You are Invited...

We would enjoy having other honorably discharged veterans join our ranks and help carry on the tradition of service to our country. We encourage you all to "serve as ably as citizens as (you) have served the nation under arms."

SEMPER FIDELIS

Links

MarineLINK
Marine Automobile Plates
USMC Community Affairs