- April 25, 2024
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Guest of Honor and WWII Marine veteran Blanche Mettler makes the first slice of the cake with help from Joe Tomaselli.
The engraved sword used to cut the cake for the event.
The two guests of honor, WWII Marine veteran Blanche Mettler and Maj. Mike Dubrule.
Vicki and Tim Watkins, Elliot Stevens, Dominic Palazzo and Bob Marrah
The oldest attendee Ralph Franklin, 95 and the youngest Jake Mullery, 23.
Per tradition the oldest Marine in attendance slices a piece of the cake and gives it to the youngest attendee.
Maj. Mike Dubrule with students of the Venice Middle School Young Marines Thanasorn Sammacheep, Talon Antolak, LandenLatchford, Sierra Reel and Sophie Shepherd.
Tom Smith stands at attention while Peter Minotti plays the harmonic during a moment of silence.
Becky Titus, Blanche Mattler and Garlende Reedy
Blanche Mettler unwraps a gift from Tom Smith for her services.
Ralph Franklin reads a card left at the table thanking veterans for their service.
Peter Minotti plays on the harmonica a medley of the "U.S. Marine Corps Hymn" and "Taps."
Maj. Mike Dubrule addresses the crowd
Time Downey gives a folded flag and some of his favorite books about Marines to Maj. Mike Dubrule.
Blanche Mettler received an ornament of a female Marine in uniform.
Georgia and Bud Caupp with Dwight and Judy Bledsoe
Jim Coakley, Bob Somers, Don Goolesby, Alexander Mitizak and Ron Kosey
Joe Mullery with his grandson Jake Mullery and Dick Bader.
Lou Mikos wore his tie especially for the occasion.
A day shy of Veterans Day, guests gathered to celebrate the few, the proud, the Marines for the 240th birthday at Marina Jack Tuesday afternoon.
For the past 13 years local active and retired members of the U.S. Marine Corps have been gathering to celebrate the birthday. This year one of the guests of honor was Maj. Mike Dubrule who commands the Young Marines group at Venice Middle School. With him were five students from the program in attendance to hear stories and interact with veterans.
"There's a real brotherhood and sisterhood in the Marine Corps," Dubrule said. "There is a legacy of leadership and discipline passed on from generation to generation. What you see here today is the continuance of observing that legacy."
Before he could sit down for lunch, veteran Tim Downey provided a prime example of that camaraderie by donating some of his favorite books to the Young Marines.
With more than 200 in attendance, collectively there was experience in the room that spanned more than 70 years of conflicts. Host and veteran Tom Smith gave each group from as early as World War II to more recently Iran and Afghanistan.
"World War II veterans, when the rest of us were going through our training, your sacrifice and your legacy were our inspiration," Smith said.
The second guest of honor was Blanche Mettler who served during World War II. She was given the honor of cutting the cake with the ceremonial sword.
"It's the most wonderful organization in the whole wide world and I'm proud to be a Marine," Mettler said.
