thedrifter
07-02-07, 05:06 AM
ABOUT THE YOUNG MARINES
July 2, 2007 12:36 am
by Hugh Muir
The tradition of the Young Marines is eloquently expressed from behind the bar at the Tun Tavern in the new National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico.
There, Robert LaChance of Spotsylvania County, a charter member of the youth organization, regales visitors and serves up drinks in full Colonial garb, working in a virtual reproduction of the tavern in Philadelphia where the first Marines were recruited in 1775.
Nine-year-old Robert and 15 other boys lined up to register as members of the Young Marines on April 1, 1959. One of the organizers behind the new youth organization was Robert's father, a Marine sergeant who served for three years in World War II in the Pacific. His son was second in line for the sign-up, but the young man just ahead of him, "never showed up again," LaChance recalled. So he became the first.
From early childhood, young LaChance had wanted to be a Marine. His father urged him to get an education first. But after graduating from a technical college, he went on to be a machinery engineer. He developed close links with the military, working as a civilian engineer with the Army and with military contractors.
He first took a break from engineering during a stint in Charleston, S.C., where he was a tour-guide carriage driver for three years. He came to Fredericksburg in 2004 to work for a military contractor. But he left that job in early 2006 to return to his love of history, and carriages.
He drove a horse-drawn carriage in downtown Fredericksburg for the rest of the year until Quantico, about to open its new museum in November 2006, began advertising for "someone to tend bar who also knows something about the Marines."
LaChance signed on. Wearing britches, stockings, buckled shoes, a peasant's work shirt, waistcoat, collar-stock and tri-cornered hat, he is now a reincarnation of Robert Mullin.
According to Corps legend, Mullin helped sign up the first members in 1775, offering a free pint of ale to recruits.
Last December, in this newly prominent Corps position, LaChance was brought to the attention of Michael B. Kessler, the national executive director of the Young Marines.
The leader of a unit of Young Marines visiting the newly opened museum learned just who bartender LaChance was, called Kessler and told him about finding No. 1.
Kessler in turn called LaChance and invited him to be a guest of honor at the weeklong Young Marines Adult Leaders Conference in May in San Antonio, Texas.
He went, and the circle is now complete. LaChance has been asked to do a recruiting video, introducing the public to the Young Marines and to work with the Marine Corps League to publicize the youth program.
"I really want to get more involved with the Young Marines," LaChance said in a recent interview. "It is where I began."
Now 57, he lives in Spotsylvania with his wife, Carol. They have four children and two grandchildren.
Hugh Muir: 540/735-1975
Email: hmuir@freelancestar.com
Ellie
July 2, 2007 12:36 am
by Hugh Muir
The tradition of the Young Marines is eloquently expressed from behind the bar at the Tun Tavern in the new National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico.
There, Robert LaChance of Spotsylvania County, a charter member of the youth organization, regales visitors and serves up drinks in full Colonial garb, working in a virtual reproduction of the tavern in Philadelphia where the first Marines were recruited in 1775.
Nine-year-old Robert and 15 other boys lined up to register as members of the Young Marines on April 1, 1959. One of the organizers behind the new youth organization was Robert's father, a Marine sergeant who served for three years in World War II in the Pacific. His son was second in line for the sign-up, but the young man just ahead of him, "never showed up again," LaChance recalled. So he became the first.
From early childhood, young LaChance had wanted to be a Marine. His father urged him to get an education first. But after graduating from a technical college, he went on to be a machinery engineer. He developed close links with the military, working as a civilian engineer with the Army and with military contractors.
He first took a break from engineering during a stint in Charleston, S.C., where he was a tour-guide carriage driver for three years. He came to Fredericksburg in 2004 to work for a military contractor. But he left that job in early 2006 to return to his love of history, and carriages.
He drove a horse-drawn carriage in downtown Fredericksburg for the rest of the year until Quantico, about to open its new museum in November 2006, began advertising for "someone to tend bar who also knows something about the Marines."
LaChance signed on. Wearing britches, stockings, buckled shoes, a peasant's work shirt, waistcoat, collar-stock and tri-cornered hat, he is now a reincarnation of Robert Mullin.
According to Corps legend, Mullin helped sign up the first members in 1775, offering a free pint of ale to recruits.
Last December, in this newly prominent Corps position, LaChance was brought to the attention of Michael B. Kessler, the national executive director of the Young Marines.
The leader of a unit of Young Marines visiting the newly opened museum learned just who bartender LaChance was, called Kessler and told him about finding No. 1.
Kessler in turn called LaChance and invited him to be a guest of honor at the weeklong Young Marines Adult Leaders Conference in May in San Antonio, Texas.
He went, and the circle is now complete. LaChance has been asked to do a recruiting video, introducing the public to the Young Marines and to work with the Marine Corps League to publicize the youth program.
"I really want to get more involved with the Young Marines," LaChance said in a recent interview. "It is where I began."
Now 57, he lives in Spotsylvania with his wife, Carol. They have four children and two grandchildren.
Hugh Muir: 540/735-1975
Email: hmuir@freelancestar.com
Ellie