National Convention Wrap UpPLEASE FORWARD TO ALL DETACHMENTS. Marine Corps League Members & Auxiliary, I hope by now that everyone has arrived safely back home. I feel that the Convention week was very productive for all. Having the U. S. Army Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM) there to brief our members on the protocol of requesting, using and storage of the M-1 Rifles is paramount in the Detachment’s success in this program. It was an outstanding brief. We will be sharing the Power Point presentation on our National MCL Website. Also, the briefing by the Veterans Affairs and the Florida National Cemeteries Representative was very informative. Marine John Knapp gave a great presentation that was informative about all National Cemeteries, not just Florida. This is a subject that we all need to think about and do some prior planning. While there, I had the honor of swearing in Marine John Knapp as a member of the Marine Corps League. All of the Committees gave their reports, and many awards and citations were passed out. Frank Mathers from the First State Detachment in Delaware was the National Marine of the Year. Patricia “Pattie” A. Leib from the Department of West Virginia was the first ever selected as the National Associate of the Year. Congratulations to them both. Also, Joe DeAngelo was selected as the MODD Dog of the Year. Congratulations Joe. The Marine Corps League Auxiliary had some outstanding meetings and outgoing President Evelyn Joppa performed her duties outstandingly. We all wish her the best and great job Madam President. There were several new Units that were chartered. We all should congratulate Linda Chamberlain who was installed as the new President. I look forward to working with her and the Auxiliary. The Military Order of the Devil Dogs had a successful year also. The 59th Chief Devil Dog Tom Hazlett presented a check for $83,000 to a local children’s part of the hospital. This was truly a great goodwill gesture by the MODD. The newest Chief Devil Dog and the 60th Chief Devil Dog is Alan Sanning, from Missouri. I wish to congratulate Chief Sanning and wish him the best in his new challenge. During the Convention, we only had one proposal that was submitted for the 2024 National Committee. The membership voted and approved that the 2024 National Convention will be held in Denver, Colorado. Also, the 2023 National Convention will be held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and you can make your reservations NOW! This will be the 100th Anniversary of the Marine Corps League. The Young Marines of the Marine Corps League and the Toys for Tots Foundation gave outstanding briefings. At the National level Board of Trustees, I was reelected as your National Commandant, Warren Griffin was reelected as your National Senior Vice Commandant, TJ Morgan was reelected as your National Junior Vice Commandant, and Russ Miller from the Rocky Mountain Division was elected as your new National Judge Advocate. Tom Krueger was appointed as the new Rocky Mountain National Vice Commandant; Jim Loorya was elected as the new Southwest National Vice Commandant; and Joe Hughes was elected as the new Midwest National Vice Commandant. All others remained the same. Congratulations and welcome to all the new members of the National Board of Trustees. And finally on a sad note, we had a few that tested positive for COVID at the Convention and several more have reported that they have tested positive for COVID on their return home. Please be aware and go get tested if you have any of the symptoms of COVID. Our Headquarters and the MODD are aware but the best thing that you can do is seek medical care. I hope that you all are healthy and missed this round of COVID. Semper Fi, Johnny Baker National Commandant / CEO Marine Corps League | 
