Actor R. Lee Ermey to Headline Feb. 11 Press Conference

Washington D.C. – Feb.  2010 – When a soldier, airman or sailor dies in conflict, families receive letters from the Army, Air Force or Navy. When a Marine dies, the family receives a letter from the Department of the Navy.

The Marine Corps League will hold a press conference Feb. 11 in Washington D.C. to announce legislation and a grassroots campaign that would change this—and give Marines equal status with the Navy.

The conference will be held 10:30 A.M. in Room 122 at the Cannon House Office Building. Press and interested parties are invited to attend.

Speaking at the conference will be:

• R. Lee Ermey, a Golden Globe-nominated actor and Marine veteran. Ermey is host of The History Channel’s “Mail Call” and “Lock and Load” and star of major films including Full Metal Jacket, Dead Man Walking and Toy Story.

• Sgt. Eddie Wright, a Marine veteran and Bronze Star recipient who lost both hands in combat in Iraq in 2004. Despite his injury, he became a Marine Corps hand-to-hand combat instructor, later retired, and is now a defense contractor.

• Dick Linn, a Gold Star father who lost his son Karl in Iraq in 2005.

• U.S. Rep Walter Jones, who introduced H.R. 24, a bill that proposes to reflect the Marine Corps name in the Department of the Navy.

• Tracy Della Vecchia, MarineParents.com founder and executive director. Her website has 90,000-plus members and provides support for parents of Marines.

• Michael Blum, Marine Corps League executive director.

Rep. Jones’ bill would change the name of the Department of the Navy to the “Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.” So far, the bill has garnered supporters including former Secretary of the Navy Lawrence Garrett, FedEx founder Fred Smith and Col. Oliver North.

“Marines have fought and died with their Navy brothers and sisters for more than 200 years,” Blum said. “It’s finally time to give the Marine Corps the recognition the branch has long deserved.”

For more information on the conference and legislation, go to the Marine Corps Identity Cause website at http://www.marinecause.com/.

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About Marine Corps Identity Cause

Marine Corps Identity Cause is a grassroots campaign founded in 2009 to give Marines equal status with the Navy. The campaign, sponsored by the Marine Corps League, has one simple—but important—goal: To get Congress to change the name of the Department of the Navy to the “Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.”

For information on how you can be part of this effort, visit http://www.marinecause.com/.

About Marine Corps League

Incorporated by an act of Congress in 1937, the Marine Corps League perpetuates the traditions and spirit of ALL Marines who proudly wear, or who have worn, the eagle, globe and anchor of the Corps.

For more information, go to http://www.mcleague.com/.