thedrifter
06-15-06, 06:31 AM
Ex-Army captain foots bill for new Marines ceremonial gear
By Natalie Miller/ natalie.miller@cnc.com
Thursday, June 15, 2006
U.S. Marines. The few. The proud.
Ipswich resident Edward Marsh wants to make sure that with the declining support the U.S. military is receiving with the war in Iraq, the number doesn’t get too few.
Marsh, a retired Army captain, is showing his support for the armed forces by offering an initiative for young men and women of Ipswich to join and serve their country.
As the owner of the Essex-based company Fusion Concepts, Marsh is offering to foot the bill for new Marine Corps recruits’ ceremonial uniform.
The government once issued dress blues to Marines, but as of a year or two ago, the $300 suit is no longer supplied, said local Marine Corps recruiter Sgt. Joshua Orndorff.
Orndorff said it is difficult for some new recruits to purchase the formal uniform. Private First Class Marines are only paid about $1,200 a month and receive $260 a year to pay for uniforms. This doesn’t cover the cost of the dress blues, let alone the number of other uniforms that are required of servicemen.
Because dress blues aren’t a required uniform, Orndorff said many new recruits don’t buy them until further up the ranks.
"It does attract attention," said Orndorff of the prestigious formal uniform that is typically worn at ceremonies and the yearly Marine Corps Birthday Balls.
Marsh said he reads about the predicament kids are in when they first enter the military. He opposes claims from the public that being a serviceman is a lower class job, something other, uneducated, people do.
"I strongly feel the opposite," he said. "My goal is to do my little part to encourage young people that the military is a viable option."
Marsh said he feels the military makes young people more mature and is a fabulous adventure and experience. He was commissioned into the Army after being enrolled in ROTC in college. He served for four years.
One Ipswich High School graduate this year is headed into the Marine Corps, and Marsh will be supplying his dress blues upon graduation from basic training. Marsh’s offer is open to any Ipswich High School graduate who enters the Marine Corps and graduates from basic training.
Orndorff said he thinks Marsh’s help is great.
"It is a nice display of patriotism, especially from a Army veteran," he said. "We are very thankful and grateful."
Ellie
By Natalie Miller/ natalie.miller@cnc.com
Thursday, June 15, 2006
U.S. Marines. The few. The proud.
Ipswich resident Edward Marsh wants to make sure that with the declining support the U.S. military is receiving with the war in Iraq, the number doesn’t get too few.
Marsh, a retired Army captain, is showing his support for the armed forces by offering an initiative for young men and women of Ipswich to join and serve their country.
As the owner of the Essex-based company Fusion Concepts, Marsh is offering to foot the bill for new Marine Corps recruits’ ceremonial uniform.
The government once issued dress blues to Marines, but as of a year or two ago, the $300 suit is no longer supplied, said local Marine Corps recruiter Sgt. Joshua Orndorff.
Orndorff said it is difficult for some new recruits to purchase the formal uniform. Private First Class Marines are only paid about $1,200 a month and receive $260 a year to pay for uniforms. This doesn’t cover the cost of the dress blues, let alone the number of other uniforms that are required of servicemen.
Because dress blues aren’t a required uniform, Orndorff said many new recruits don’t buy them until further up the ranks.
"It does attract attention," said Orndorff of the prestigious formal uniform that is typically worn at ceremonies and the yearly Marine Corps Birthday Balls.
Marsh said he reads about the predicament kids are in when they first enter the military. He opposes claims from the public that being a serviceman is a lower class job, something other, uneducated, people do.
"I strongly feel the opposite," he said. "My goal is to do my little part to encourage young people that the military is a viable option."
Marsh said he feels the military makes young people more mature and is a fabulous adventure and experience. He was commissioned into the Army after being enrolled in ROTC in college. He served for four years.
One Ipswich High School graduate this year is headed into the Marine Corps, and Marsh will be supplying his dress blues upon graduation from basic training. Marsh’s offer is open to any Ipswich High School graduate who enters the Marine Corps and graduates from basic training.
Orndorff said he thinks Marsh’s help is great.
"It is a nice display of patriotism, especially from a Army veteran," he said. "We are very thankful and grateful."
Ellie