In lieu of “Happy Birthday,” U.S. Marine Corps veteran Andy Burch suggested a more specific celebratory tune:

“You all brought your singing pipes with you today, right? We’ve got to sing ‘The Marines’ Hymn.’”

With that, the Tarentum resident launched into the familiar “From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli/We fight our country’s battles in the air, on land and sea.”

He and fellow members of the Marine Corps League’s Allegheny Valley Detachment 827 visited the Southwestern Veterans Center on Friday for a commemoration of the 247th anniversary of the military branch’s founding.

Residents of the Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar nursing home who had served in the Marines were invited to participate. They received swag bags full of patriotic items and other goodies while enjoying snacks and pieces of a festively decorated birthday cake.

“The tradition is that the oldest and the youngest Marine cut the cake,” Burch, who serves as his detachment’s chaplain, said. Two of the veterans subsequently did the honors in recognition of the Nov. 10, 1775, resolution by the Second Continental Congress that effectively created the Corps.

This Nov. 10 also marks the 100th anniversary of the Marine Corps League’s formation. The national organization’s missions include promoting the interest and preserve traditions of the Marines while fostering the ideals of Americanism.

In 1937, the league became the only U.S. Marine Corps-related veterans organization to be chartered by Congress.

Detachment 827, based in Springdale, is part of District 10 of the Marine Corps League of Pennsylvania. Along with Burch, the detachment’s leadership includes Emil Zilka of Frazer, commandant; Bill Jeffcoat of Plum, senior vice commandant; and Gil Thomas of Arnold, judge advocate.

Purple Heart commemoration

Burch also has a leadership role in a national initiative, “Light to Unite,” taking place in 30 cities on Veterans Day in honor of the 240th anniversary of the Purple Heart Award, established by George Washington and originally designated as the Badge of Military Merit.

In Pittsburgh, the event is scheduled for dusk at the Koppers Building, 436 Seventh Ave. Inside the building is the headquarters of the National Flag Foundation, the initiative’s primary organizer, which has the support of the Marine Corps League, Military Order of the Purple Heart, United Steelworkers and other organizations.

The ceremony features a Marine Corps League color guard made up of District 10 Purple Heart recipients, and recording artist Mia Logan, a native of Hempfield, will travel from Nashville, Tenn., to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Another purpose of “Light to Unite,” Burch said, is to show support for federal legislation introduced last year in the House by Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Peters, and in the Senate this year by fellow Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey.

The Honoring Purple Heart Recipients Act would require the Department of Defense to include individuals who are awarded the Purple Heart “on its publicly accessible website that lists individuals who are recipients of certain military awards,” according to the bill’s language.

Service dogs for veterans

Besides his involvement with the Marine Corps League and other activities, Jeffcoat serves as president of Life Changing Service Dogs for Veterans, a Pittsburgh-area nonprofit that supports Florida-based Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, which breeds and trains canines as companions for individuals with disabilities include traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Guardian Angels has acquired land in Robinson Township, Washington County, for construction of a regional campus.

To help raise money toward that endeavor, Life Changing Service Dogs for Veterans is holding a Holiday Bingo Night from 5 to 9 on Dec. 3 at Penn Hills No. 7 Volunteer Fire Company, 125 Universal Road. Doors open at 4, and tickets are $15, including three bingo cards for each of 10 games.

Guests are asked to bring and unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots and receive a card for an exclusive bingo game. Email pennhillsno7vfc@gmail.com.

For more information about Life Changing Service Dogs for Veterans, visit www.padogsforvets.org.

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