By Leslie Kelly
lkelly@soundpublishing.com

The basement of the building isn’t that big. There’s just room for about 10 tables. On the walls are military memorabilia, photos of those who have served and large, wood Gold Stars to honor those who have died.

Sitting at the tables are about 20 men in red vests who have come to talk about doing good for their brothers and their community. It’s a meeting of the Marine Corps League Olympic Peninsula Detachment 531.

At the helm is Master Sgt. Jason Selby, a very recently retired Marine. He’s leading the meeting, which is somewhat formal, with a hint of humor. Those attending are all Marines, either active or retired, and begin the meeting by taking part in prayer for their fellow Marines and for the country.

Then business gets underway. It’s run with an “informal” formality.

A Marine asks Selby about a community project they are working on.

“Marine, that’s a dollar,” Selby says. “You didn’t address me correctly.”

Another member yells out, “It’s two dollars. He didn’t stand either.”

And the crowd laughs.

It’s all a part of the camaraderie of the Marine Corps League.

Because there is no Marine Reserve unit in the area, the Marine Corps League is the group that takes on part of the role that reservists would. They are the group that makes sure that any Marine in the area, or anyone in their family, who has a need is cared for. They also provide services to their community through public service.

“That’s why we exist,” said Sam Martin, past commandant with the League. “Our whole purpose is to serve.”

The group’s history dates back to 1983 when Ret. Sgt. Robert Murphy and a couple of Marine buddies were sitting at a bar drinking beer.

“We said, ‘The Marine Corps started in a bar, why not the Marine Corps League?’ ” Murphy said.

The original charter was dated June 6, 1983, D-Day, to honor all veterans of World War II.

In the first years, the membership rose to 110. Members marched in parades, even though three founding members, including Murphy, had chronic war wounds to their legs.

“We did it proudly,” Murphy said. “I recall one parade where it was so windy the American flag we carried was just whipping around.”

Membership has gone up and down throughout the years, a high of 150 to a low of six. Today the detachment has about 80 members.

“We’re here for the young Marines who are stationed at Bangor,” Murphy said. “Anything they need, or their families need, we’re here.”

Martin, who is well known for his work with the local Toys for Tots campaign each December, said just as important is the League’s work in the community.

“We do Toys for Toys,” he said. “That’s our biggest thing. But we have other projects.”

In past years, they’ve done fishing derbies for kids and given away bicycles that they repaired. Today they work at park clean-ups, help at local museums, and plan to support foster children with school supplies and clothing needs. This year, they’ll host a hot dog stand at the Kitsap County Fair to make money for their projects including Toys for Tots.

Back in the day, Toys for Tots inventory was stored during the year in a member’s garage.

“We started out in 1970 with a closet and then it grew to the garage,” said Martin. “Soon, we had to rent a storage unit. And now United Moving allows us storage at no cost.”

Each year, they give out from 7,000 to 8,000 toys to children in need at Christmas.

One of the ways members recruit Marines to join them is by always carrying business cards that tell about the League.

“That’s how they got me,” said member Bob Schneider. “I was at the gun store in Gorst and I had on my hat with the Marine emblem on it. Someone came up and said they needed me in the Marine Corps League.”

Today’s membership includes Marines of all ages. In just the past year, leadership roles have been handed off to younger members. Martin, who was the commandant has passed the reins to Selby.

“There’s the old school group like me,” said Martin. “And there’s the new kids — the next generation.”

But what’s of concern to Martin and some others is that the League needs more younger members to help carry on the traditions.

“We’re trying to reach out to younger Marines by using social media,” Selby said. “We have a Facebook page.”

Selby, who retired as a master sergeant in January after 23 years in the Marines, wants to get the League back to its roots.

“We want to do more for the community,” he said. “We want to work with local businesses and the chambers and the city parks departments to provide public service where it’s needed.”

He knows the growth of the League’s work is dependent on getting more members. Sgt. Major Craig Douglas, part of the Marine Corps Security Force Regiment at Bangor is helping connect the League with Marines at Bangor. He’s served 27 years and been on 12 tours of duty — eight of those were in combat.

“We represent the values that Marines hold,” Selby said. “We need more help to carry out the work we do.”

But the League is much more to the Marines who participate. It’s a group where they can be themselves and know that others share what they’ve experienced. Whether it be a Marine from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Iraq or Afghanistan, or peace time service, all are welcome in the League.

“We can help the Marines who have come back and are dealing with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) or other things,” Martin said. “They have a place where they can talk and we understand what they are going through.”

And what about those dollars collected at the meetings for missed moves on the part of members? They go to charity, too.

Down the road, they hope to be able to have enough members to help with local Little League teams and do more for the Washington State Special Olympics.

“The biggest thing is, as members of the Marine Corps League, we are carrying out what Marines do which is help each other, help others in the community and love this country,” Selby said.

Because, once a Marine, always a Marine.

To find out how to join, call Martin at 360-265-7492. Meetings are at 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at 2315 Burwell St. in Bremerton.

Selby can be reached at 951-805-9938.