thedrifter
11-01-07, 07:16 AM
The few and proud party
By Paul E. Kandarian | November 1, 2007
THE FEW AND PROUD PARTY: Marine Sergeant Elliot W. Chassey of Plymouth thought his rotation as forward artillery observer in Korea in 1952 was for one month. A year later, Chassey was still on the front line, doing his duty, he said, because "that's the Marine Corps way."
That legendary esprit de corps is to be celebrated Sunday during a Veterans Day "Birthday Ball" honoring the 232d anniversary of the Marines, at the Radisson Hotel Plymouth Harbor, starting at 6 p.m. with cocktails, with dinner at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person, and proceeds will be used to fund various activities, including the Jeffrey Burgess Scholarship in honor of a Marine lance corporal from Plymouth who was killed in Iraq in 2004. He was 20.
"The event isn't just for Marine veterans, but for all branches of the service," said Chassey, 75, retired president of Plymouth Five Cents Savings. "And it's a celebration of the Marines birthday."
Birthday celebrations were held in Plymouth in the mid-1980s, he said, not as fund-raisers but as part of a recruiting effort and to get Marines together. The latest event will also be a recruiting tool, he said, but more importantly it's a way of saying thanks to all who serve, from any branch of the armed services.
"A couple of the younger guys approached Elliot to see if he was interested in organizing it again this year," said another organizer, Jack Pomeroy, 62, also a former Marine sergeant. "So Elliot got me and a couple other guys to help out."
Those other guys, Michael Vernazzaro and Keven Joyce, both of Plymouth, had also been Marine sergeants. The four put together the event that is also raising money for items to send to troops overseas and to assist their families at home.
Scheduled keynote speaker is a Hanover native, Colonel Stephen M. Pomeroy, Jack Pomeroy's brother, a decorated pilot who will talk about his nearly 30 years in the Corps, including flying more than 40 combat missions during the first Iraq war. He is now commanding officer and professor of naval science at the Naval ROTC unit at Norwich University in Vermont, and has earned the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, and Air Medal with combat "V."
For information or tickets, call Chassey at 508-746-3498, Vernazzaro at 774-454-2709, Jack Pomeroy at 508-747-7344, or Joyce at 508-209-0257.
Paul E. Kandarian can be reached at Kandarian@globe.com.
Ellie
By Paul E. Kandarian | November 1, 2007
THE FEW AND PROUD PARTY: Marine Sergeant Elliot W. Chassey of Plymouth thought his rotation as forward artillery observer in Korea in 1952 was for one month. A year later, Chassey was still on the front line, doing his duty, he said, because "that's the Marine Corps way."
That legendary esprit de corps is to be celebrated Sunday during a Veterans Day "Birthday Ball" honoring the 232d anniversary of the Marines, at the Radisson Hotel Plymouth Harbor, starting at 6 p.m. with cocktails, with dinner at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person, and proceeds will be used to fund various activities, including the Jeffrey Burgess Scholarship in honor of a Marine lance corporal from Plymouth who was killed in Iraq in 2004. He was 20.
"The event isn't just for Marine veterans, but for all branches of the service," said Chassey, 75, retired president of Plymouth Five Cents Savings. "And it's a celebration of the Marines birthday."
Birthday celebrations were held in Plymouth in the mid-1980s, he said, not as fund-raisers but as part of a recruiting effort and to get Marines together. The latest event will also be a recruiting tool, he said, but more importantly it's a way of saying thanks to all who serve, from any branch of the armed services.
"A couple of the younger guys approached Elliot to see if he was interested in organizing it again this year," said another organizer, Jack Pomeroy, 62, also a former Marine sergeant. "So Elliot got me and a couple other guys to help out."
Those other guys, Michael Vernazzaro and Keven Joyce, both of Plymouth, had also been Marine sergeants. The four put together the event that is also raising money for items to send to troops overseas and to assist their families at home.
Scheduled keynote speaker is a Hanover native, Colonel Stephen M. Pomeroy, Jack Pomeroy's brother, a decorated pilot who will talk about his nearly 30 years in the Corps, including flying more than 40 combat missions during the first Iraq war. He is now commanding officer and professor of naval science at the Naval ROTC unit at Norwich University in Vermont, and has earned the Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, and Air Medal with combat "V."
For information or tickets, call Chassey at 508-746-3498, Vernazzaro at 774-454-2709, Jack Pomeroy at 508-747-7344, or Joyce at 508-209-0257.
Paul E. Kandarian can be reached at Kandarian@globe.com.
Ellie