MCHF - March Marine Minute: Marine Corps Anniversaries, Vietnam Veterans Day, Women's History Month and more

 

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Marine Corps Anniversaries The month of March marks several iconic anniversaries for the Marine Corps. March 3 was the 245th Anniversary of the first amphibious landing by U.S. Marines on foreign soil. The landing occurred in Nassau, Bahamas where Marines captured the British Navy’s gunpowder reserves secured there. While much of the gunpowder was evacuated by the British shortly before Marines captured the city, the amount that the Marines managed to take was vital to supplying George Washington's Army. One of the most famous versions of the Eagle, Globe and Anchor insignia, used during World War II, was adopted on March 16, 1936. Due to material shortages at the time however, many Marines could not be supplied with the new emblem and were forced to have them produced locally, resulting in variations such as the Australian produced version (pictured below). The modern version was later adopted on June 22, 1954. Those interested can purchase a charm with the modern version of the Eagle, Globe and Anchor at the Museum gift shop website.  Vietnam Veterans Day 2021 is the 46th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, one of the most difficult and protracted wars in United States history. The men and women of the Marine Corps were some of the first to put boots on the ground and some of the last to leave. In association with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation has created a video honoring their sacrifice and showcasing some of the exhibits and artifacts in the National Museum of the Marine Corps. When the Museum reopens, the Foundation invites everyone to visit the Museum and explore the Vietnam War through the eyes of Marines.  Women's History Month This month, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation joins the nation in honoring the role women have played in strengthening our nation, particularly those women who earned the title "Marine." Since the first female Marine Reservist Opha Johnson joined in 1918, women have played a vital role in the Corps. While it wasn't until 1967 when Master Sergeant Barbara Dulinsky became the first woman Marine to serve in combat, they played an integral role in supporting Marines from home. By the time WWII ended, women Marines had worked in 225 specialties in 16 of 21 functional fields, filling 85 percent of the enlisted jobs at Headquarters Marine Corps and comprising one-half to two-thirds of the permanent personnel at all large Marine Corps posts and stations. While the Museum remains closed, the Foundation encourages you to visit Semper Fidelis Memorial Park and see the statue of Molly Marine (pictured below) which represents all women Marines. Our Mission Continues The month of March marks one year since the Museum's first closure for COVID-19 precautions. While we were not able to welcome visitors for much of 2020, the Foundation's mission carried on. If you missed Major General Lukeman sharing the highlights of how we have persevered during the pandemic, and why your support still matters, please take a minute to watch this video. We continue to follow state, federal and Marine Corps guidelines and we look forward to reopening when we can ensure the safety of all staff and visitors.

Charitable Giving Tip If you have an IRA, you can use it to not only support the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation during your lifetime but also to make a legacy gift – and in both cases using this asset could be a tax-wise option. Naming an individual beneficiary of your IRA other than your spouse will be taxable to your heirs, while naming a tax-exempt charity as a beneficiary will not. To make a current gift, you can authorize a tax-free transfer to the MCHF directly from your IRA – a gift referred to as a Qualified Charitable Deduction (QCD). QCD gifts are gaining in popularity -- in fact, the number of donors who made QCD gifts this year has doubled over the number who made them during the same period last year. To learn more about how to use your IRA to make both current and legacy gifts, visit our website. If you have any questions about using your IRA to make charitable gifts and/or would like to explore other ways to include the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation in your estate plans, please contact Gayle Union, at union@marineheritage.org, or call 703.586.7463. There is, of course, no obligation and all inquiries are confidential. Thank you!

We hope that you enjoy receiving these monthly updates from the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. As a valued member and contributor to the MCHF, we want to provide you with timely news regarding our activities and ongoing support of the National Museum of the Marine Corps. We appreciate your support and welcome any feedback. This e-mail was sent to you by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add enewsletter@marineheritage.org to your address book.