You have to give Glock credit!
"Mail Call" for Marines
Submitted by: MCB Quantico
Story Identification #: 200491675732
Story by Cpl. Susan Moyer
Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va (Sept. 10, 2004) -- Hundreds of Marines, Sailors, and civilians, attended the special Mail Call event, hosted by R. Lee Ermey, actor and former Marine, at the Little Hall Theater Friday night at 8 p.m.
The taping of Mail Call, aired on the History Channel, kicked off the R. Lee Ermey Celebrity Experience.
Caption: The Miss Virginia titleholder, Kristi Glakas, accompanied Robert Glock, the executive senior vice president of Glock Handguns, to present $100,000 to Ermey for the R. Lee Ermey Celebrity Experience Friday night at the Little Hall Theater. The check and all other proceeds from the weekend’s events went to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and Young Marines Youth Organization. Photo by: Cpl. Susan Moyer
Throughout the weekend, over 25 celebrities joined Emey for several fund-raising events. All proceeds went to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and Young Marines Youth Organization.
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society’s mission is to help provide financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the United States Naval Services, family members and survivors when in need.
“The Society is becoming exhausted from the war in Iraq, so I wanted to find a way to help them out,” said Ermey. “I don’t want our troops over in Iraq and Afghanistan to worry about whether or not their families are being taken care of here at home.”
Caption: R. Lee Ermey, actor and former Marine, practices with a group of Quantico Marines for an act performed during the Mail Call event Friday at the Little Hall Theater. He jumped into character as Senior Drill Instructor Gunnery Sgt. Hartman and used the Marines to help reenact scenes from his movie, Full Metal Jacket. Photo by: Cpl. Susan Moyer
The Young Marines is a youth education and service program open to boys and girls, ages eight through the completion of high school, which focuses on the mental, moral, and physical development of its members.
“The Young Marines is one of the fastest growing youth programs in the U.S.,” said Michael B. Kessler, the national executive director of the Young Marines. “This is due to the fact that we instill all of the traits that are unique to the Marine Corps in our youth.”
Although the weekend’s activities were fund-raising events for the Relief Society and the Young Marines, Friday’s Mail Call event was free to all military service members and family members with D.o.D identification.
“We just came down here to let the troops relax and have some fun,” said Ermey. “We are sure going to put on a show.”
A line began to form an hour and a half before the event began.
“I was ready for this three weeks ago when I heard Ermey was coming,” said Andrew T. Piskator, a travel clerk on base and one of the first people in line for the event. “I am a big, big fan and a faithful viewer.”
Once the line finished filing into the theater, it was almost a full house and the crowd was ready for the show.
Mail Call kicked off with opening remarks from Mark Kessler, the stadium announcer for the Washington Redskins and was followed by a few songs played on a bagpipe.
Finally, Ermey took the floor. He marched a group of Marines out to the front of the stage and reenacted scenes from his movie Full Metal Jacket as his character Senior Drill Instructor Gunnery Sgt. Hartman.
“That was my favorite part of the whole show,” said Piskator. “He sounded just like he did in the movie … intimidating.”
Next, Colton Burton (NBC’s most talented kid) took the stage to perform a hiphop dance number along with his two backup dancers. “Little C,” only nine-years-old, received non-stop applause from the crowd for his dance moves.
The dance trio took the floor for a second number after four comedians performed for the crowd to include Jim Turner, Henry Cho, Tom Parks and Turk Pipkin.
During the show, Robert Glock, the executive senior vice president of Glock Handguns, presented $100,000 to Ermey for the R. Lee Ermey Celebrity Experience. Next, the crowd was entertained with several songs performed by Billy Burnette from Fleetwood Mac and three others who sang, played guitar and played the drums.
Ermey ended the show, after thanking all his sponsors and people who helped out with the event, with “Semper Fi, do or die…oorah Marines!”
www.ermeyexperience.com