SUN CITY – In the United States Marine Corps, there’s a saying, “Once a Marine, always a Marine.” According to Sun City Huntley Marines Commandant Charles A. Molitor, N.33, and Turstee Tony Laforte, N.10, this is a very true saying.
What: Special Interest Group open to any Sun City resident who served in the United States Marine Corps. It is also open to a Navy person who was a Corpsman attached to a Marine unit.
Meets: Second Thursday of each month at 2 p.m. in the lower level of Citizens Bank in Huntley
Appearances: Marching in the upcoming Huntley Memorial Day Parade on May 31 at 11 a.m. Laforte is also schedule to be the guest speaker on the gathering at Town Square after the parade.
Fees: $15/year
To Join: Either stop by a regularly scheduled meeting or call Commandant Chuck Molitor at 847-659-9411 or Vice Commandant Alan Terrill at 847-515-1202.
“We believe that,” Laforte said. “There’s something about when you served in the Marine Corps; it affects your life in many different ways.”
Laforte and Sun City resident and WWII veteran Fitz Masur established the Sun City Huntley Marines (SCHM) in 2007 with about 7 members for the purpose of celebrating the Marine Corps’ birthday. In the three years of its operation, membership has risen and steadied to about 35 to 40 members who range from veterans of WWII, Korea, Vietnam, among other conflicts and general active duty personnel.
In the three years of its establishment, the SCHM have broadened their scope from celebrating the Marine Corps’ birthday to activating many community services, from providing scholarships and Marine Corps’ recognition at funerals to marching in the annual Huntley Memorial Day parade. The SCHM also have a close relationship with Huntley High School, who, according to Laforte, is “a major provider to the Marine Corps,” and have invited students who have joined the Marines to meetings to express their appreciation. For one such young individual headed to the Middle East, they sent care packages during his tour. SCHM works closely, too, with the local Marine Corps’ recruiter and invites newly enlisted Marines to a luncheon in their honor.
“We just thank these kids for going into the Marine Corps,” Laforte said. “Today, anytime I see a serviceman, I’ll go up to him and say thank you for serving.”
“You can go anywhere in this country,” Molitor added, “and if another Marine sees you, he’ll go out of his way to come over and say hello. It’s just the camaraderie the Marine Corps established. Marines are a special breed. We try to keep things going.”
