The Marine Corps League was founded in 1923 by World War I Veteran of Belleau Wood, Commandant of the Marine Corps, then Major General John A. Lejeune. On August 4, 1937, the U.S. Congress Congressionally Chartered the organization as a Veteran Service Organization. It maintains a 501c4 non-profit status with the Internal Revenue Service with special tax exemption.
THE SUNRISE DETACHMENT:
The Sunrise Detachment was chartered on February 15, 1956, incorporated in New York State. Our clubhouse was purchased in 1970, and has been enjoyed by, Marine Corps veterans to this day. The Sunrise Detachment owns this building debt free.
The clubhouse building has a separate bar room, meeting/events room, main hall party room, small kitchen, office, and merchandise display room. There is a full basement that is utilized primarily for storage. Its authorized occupancy is for 150 people. Additionally, our backyard can easily accommodate over 200 people. Our building and grounds are extensively utilized by not only our members, but many different organizations and persons in our local area.
For over 55 years, countless Marine Corps veterans have considered the Sunrise Detachment Clubhouse their second home as it serves as the focal point for maintaining their Marine Corps spirit with fellow Marines through participation in the various social, military, and volunteerism functions that membership provides.
The Sunrise Detachment has evolved into the premier Marine Corps veteran’s organization on Long Island due to our significant involvement in community and veteran’s affairs, special events, and particularly for our support for the active-duty Marine Corps.
Guests—family and friends—of our members are an integral component of our organization’s activities. They are welcome to participate in and enjoy our social events which exponentially increases the number of people who benefit from our organization.
The Sunrise Detachment provides special opportunity for comradery amongst our members who share the same background, experiences, and appreciation of having served in the United States Marine Corps. This is especially true as it pertains to our combat veterans—there is simply no substitute or alternative to this special bond.
The following are some examples of what we do, what benefits are enjoyed by our members, their families, community groups, and how we represent our organization in local community events. It is by no means an all-inclusive listing of our activities.
- Hold bi-weekly meetings to conduct the business of the Sunrise Detachment.
- Hold informational presentations regarding military/VA benefits potentially available to veterans. The current “hot topics” are the Camp Lejeune Water Contamination. Legislation and Burn Pit Exposure Heath/Disability Benefits.
- Our tavern is open weekly and for frequently scheduled social/special events for members and guests at very low cost for beverages.
- Maintain a scholarship fund to annually grant up to two children or grandchildren of members a scholarship.
- Made donations to worthy causes including to the Nassau County Veteran’s Food Pantry and Long Island Cares, and various other military and/or community causes.
- Provide military funeral honors for veterans at wakes and burial sites. Includes rifle salute firing detail and flag presentation to survivors.
- Annually conduct a Thanksgiving food drive for active-duty Marines stationed on Long Island, headquartered in Garden City, NY. Provide food for approximately 125 Marines and their families.
- Provide equipment, supplies, and volunteer support to BBQ for approximately 800 people for the Marine Corps Recruiting Station New York annual “Dan Daly Cup” which is a competition, training, and morale event for young men and women preparing to enter the Marine Corps.
- Provide financial support and volunteers to support active-duty Marine Corps recreational events.
- Periodically organize trips for members to travel as a group to Marine Corps related destinations such as Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island and to the Marine Corps Museum in Stafford, VA.
- Provide our clubhouse and volunteers for hosting fundraisers benefiting military members and/or families of those experiencing special hardship.
- Participate in Eagle Scout presentations.
- Host annual members and guests low-cost Christmas Party.
- Host annual no-cost children’s Christmas party.
- Provide extensive support for Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign.
- Host annual “Heritage Night” event celebrating the history of the Marine Corps.
- Host annual low-cost Super Bowl Party for members and guests.
- Participate in annual Massapequa Memorial Day Parade and host low-cost BBQ and Remembrance Ceremony at our clubhouse with associated organizations.
- Participate in Massapequa Fourth of July Parade followed by members’ no-cost BBQ at our clubhouse.
- Provide a Ceremonial Rifle Salute Firing Detail for other organizations who host different events such as Massapequa Veterans Day Ceremony, Korean War Veterans Ceremony, and Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration at the Long Island National Cemetery.
- Annually celebrate the Marine Corps Birthday at our clubhouse. This celebration is very large and brings a couple of hundred Marines, past and present, to our clubhouse to celebrate the history and traditions of the United States Marine Corps.
- Maintain a member’s rifle team for recreational and competitive shooting.
- Annually host a Saint Patrick’s Party for members and guests.
- Annually hold a Marine Corps Birthday Ball for members and guests.
- Provide the use of Clubhouse, at a very low cost, to members for their private special events such as birthday parties, retirement parties, communions, etc.
In addition to our clubhouse building being a great asset for hosting numerous special events for our own members, we allow our clubhouse to be the host site for a variety of other community organizations at low or no cost to them. Our building is particularly favored by law enforcement groups as a secure and private facility for their events. Other organizations use our clubhouse for their meetings or special events at low or no cost to them, including the Blue Star Mothers Association, Fire Department New York Marine Corps Association, Ancient Order of the Hibernians, Leathernecks Motorcycle Club, Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club, and ABATE (American Bikers for Training, Education and Awareness.
Of particular importance to our mission is our history of providing immeasurable assistance to the active-duty Marine Corps. Active-duty Marines of the First Marine Corps District and Recruiting Station New York periodically utilize our clubhouse at no cost to them for official and social purposes, such as for recruiting, training, and morale events. We are happy to be able to provide this support in accordance with our mission and living our motto!
In summary, thousands of people benefit from our organization and the use of our facility year over year.