“Oldest Marine” Mike Harper, a Sun Lakes resident and WWII veteran, is escorted to the cake cutting ceremony.
Denise Lott
The birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps is approaching in November. In keeping with tradition, our East Valley Marine Corps League’s Sun Lakes Detachment 1296 is hosting its annual Birthday Ball. The Ball will be on Saturday, November 7 at the Oakwood Country Club in Sun Lakes.
The public is invited to enjoy the formal event and show support for our Marine Corps. Proceeds from the Ball tickets go to our Arizona Wounded Veterans. You can download a ticket order form at www.eastvalleymarines.org. The event can sell out quickly, and sales end in early October, so do not delay in ordering tickets. The formal event starts at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour, followed by dinner, special ceremonial events, guest speaker and dancing to Thaddeus Rose’s band.
Each year, the detachment sponsors several of our Wounded Marines and their spouses/dates, also arranging for a pre-Ball reception in their honor, as well as providing all hotel and meal accommodations.
The guest speaker for this year is William L. “Spider” Nyland, a veteran of the Vietnam War and a retired United States Marine Corps four-star General who served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from 2002 to 2005. He retired from the Marine Corps in November 2005 after over 37 years of distinguished service.