Granite State Detachment 542, Marine Corps League

Greater Hillsborough County Area

Members and Associates of the Granite State Detachment,

It has been almost a year since I was nominated to be your Commandant. In that time, I have been continually humbled by the dedication, commitment, enthusiasm and creativity of our members and associates as we work to fulfill our common goals of serving our community and veterans. To have experienced the level of support I have received as a leader, and to see you all supporting each other as well in these tasks and the personal challenges that come up in our lives has been inspiring. I cannot imagine a group of people who are more unified and effective for what we are and what we do. 

The kind of experience and talent we have is reflected not only in the three major awards individuals in our detachment have received from the NH Department, but in the endurance and willingness to voluntarily serve at the various events and fundraisers throughout the year.

Perhaps nowhere did all of the above come into play more clearly than at the marathon sessions at our recent fundraiser in Lebanon NH --- 4-hour sessions with over an hour of driving on either end. Given the older demographic of our detachment, this really tested the physical limits of what our volunteers should be doing. Next time, with such a distant site, to cut the time commitment, I will split those sessions and try to get more of us involved in taking the slots. But to those six who faithfully made this a success with an effort above and beyond, thank you.

Lastly, it is good that Cody Dumont, having filled all his officer billets, will continue as our Department Commandant because he clearly sees the major long-term survival challenge of the League which is to bring in the next generation of Marines. His initiatives such as “Lunches for Leathernecks” and personal visitation and encouragement to all the detachments will help recruit the younger Marines and their families so the League can continue to grow. However, we can support him (ideas, presence at his events) in this will benefit the detachment and the League.         

--- Eric Anthony, Commandant, Granite State Detachment

Marines!

As we take this moment to reflect on Memorial Day and honor the profound sacrifices made by those who gave their lives for our freedom, our organization remains dedicated to fostering community and upholding cherished traditions.

In the spirit of continued engagement and support, we are pleased to announce a series of fundraising initiatives scheduled for the upcoming months. A significant focus of our current efforts is the meticulous planning for our esteemed Marine Corps Birthday Ball. A dedicated committee has been actively formed and is diligently working to curate an unparalleled celebration, ensuring an evening of distinction and camaraderie.

We are delighted to confirm that the Marine Corps Birthday Ball is slated for November 10, 2026, and will be hosted at the elegant Puritan in Manchester, New Hampshire. Please be advised that comprehensive details regarding ticket procurement and pricing are currently undergoing finalization and will be formally disseminated to all interested parties in due course.

Semper Fi.

 Jesse L. Stufflebeam. SVC

📣 Call for Leadership:

Junior Vice Commandant Needed

Granite State Detachment 542 is seeking a dedicated member to step into the role of Junior Vice Commandant.

This position plays a vital part in strengthening our Detachment by:

• Creating membership incentives and programs that foster growth and enthusiasm
• Supporting leadership continuity by stepping in when needed

If you’re passionate about serving veterans and building community, this is your chance to lead with purpose and make a lasting impact.

Whether you’re a longtime member or newly active, your voice and energy matter. Let’s shape the future of GSD 542 together.

Interested? Reach out to the Commandant to learn more or express your interest.

Memorial Day Reflection

We reflect, remember & honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

As a combat veteran I witnessed many Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I will always be grateful for their service for us.

Memorial Day is a time to give thanks to all the deceased members of the United States Services. We should never forget their great sacrifice.



On the 30^th of May at 11:00am I was present at the Boscawen Veterans Cemetery and gave the invocation and prayer for our fallen.

I am honored to carry out this sacred duty as Chaplain of the Marine Corps League.

We salute the men and women in all services of our Country yesterday, today and tomorrow. With all of our faithful servicemen & women in all the military branches we can look forward to a stronger country. They too are our heroes.

Amen

Joe Duquette, Chaplain  

Paymaster Second Quarter 2026 Report

This quarterly report covers activities, progress, and donations for the Granite State Detachment, Marine Corps League from April through June 2026.

Progress and Activities

Throughout the second quarter, our detachment continued to advance its mission of supporting veterans and promoting community engagement. We organized several outreach initiatives, including participation in local Memorial Day ceremonies and volunteer service projects. These efforts helped strengthen our presence in the community and foster camaraderie among members.

Donation Trends and Impact

During the second quarter, GSD #542 demonstrated a positive increase in outgoing donations. This upward trend highlights our detachment's ongoing commitment to supporting veterans and local community groups. By maintaining steady and impactful contributions, our organization continues to fulfill its mission of service and support.

Revo Casino Lebanon, NH Fundraising Contributions

Funds raised from our designated days at the Revo Casino are specifically allocated to assist Marines, veterans, and community organizations or individuals in New Hampshire who are in need. These proceeds are distributed with careful consideration to ensure they directly benefit those requiring assistance, consistent with our dedication to service within the state. The following section details our donations made during the second quarter of 2026:

April Donations

• NH Troopers Association: $500

• Manchester Central HS students – Chaos STEM Ed Robot Competition: $1,000

May Donations

• Fiddle Ensemble Organization 2026 Concerts – Program Book - Full Page Advertisement $500

• Manchester Veterans Medical Center – CLC VETS Bingo: $120 (three-month supply of Bingo Bucks)

• Meals on Wheels: $500

• TUN Tavern Legacy Foundation – engraved GSD #542 4”x 8” Brick - USMC Fundraiser: $517

• Frank A. Diekmann GSD #542 Scholarship

$500 Scholarship Award to college student Rachel Otto

June Donations

• Frank A. Diekmann GSD #542 Scholarship

$2,000 Scholarship Award to college bound high school 2026 graduate Arwen Feng

Looking Ahead

As we enter the next quarter, the detachment will concentrate on broadening outreach initiatives and maintaining our commitment to assist veterans and community organizations in need. Members are encouraged to remain engaged and actively participate, helping us build upon the achievements from the previous quarter. By working together, we can continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who have served.

Respectfully submitted,

Marge Romano

The Scholarship Committee is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 Frank A. Diekmann Academic Scholarship. We had several excellent candidates from our area schools and which made a hard decision for the committee to select the winners. We commend all the students hard work and determination in their academic excellence and extra curricular activities.

We selected two outstanding students, one from a high school and one from a college who had received one of our high school scholarships in years past.

Congratulations to Arwen Feng from Hollis-Brookline High School who has been accepted to Johns Hopkins University in the fall. Her goal is to become a pediatric cardiovascular heart surgeon and wishes to explore regenerative technologies and biomanufactured hearts. As the step-granddaughter of a Marine veteran, GSD 542 is proud to award Arwen with $2000 toward her dreams.

Below: Arwen Feng receiving the scholarship from George Robinson of the GSD 542 MCL Scholarship committee at the Hollis-Brookline High School Awards night.

Congratulations to Rachel Otto, currently attending the University of Rhode Island and a former winner of the Frank A. Diekmann Scholarship. Rachel is currently pursuing a degree in Animal Science and is strongly considering becoming an animal physical therapist. With her hard work and dedication to her studies she is working toward this goal. As the granddaughter of GSD 542's Chaplain, Joe Duquette, we are proud to award Rachel $500 to continue in her academic goals.

Below left: Rachel Otto receiving the scholarship award from SVC Jesse Stufflebeam. Next to Rachel is her grandfather Joe Duquette and her mother.

Below right: left to right is Rachel's mother, grandfather Joe, Rachel, Joey Duquette, and Jesse Stufflebeam.

Due to the weather on Saturday May 30^th, which was cold (39 degrees), rainy and windy, the Cemetery Director, Shawn Buck made the decision to move the ceremony indoors, with seating in the Chapel for the main featured events and overflow seating in the nearby Veteran Learning Center (with live broadcast inside). All the early arrivals, cemetery staff, MCL NH (which was hosting the event), and veterans organizations helped set up the extra chairs needed. Cody Dumont, Commandant of NH MCL, also arranged 250 cupcakes with red, white and blue frosting in an American flag on a table in back.

The event began at 11:00 with the colors and singing of the National Anthem by the Manchester Memorial Choir. Bryan Westover, (Dillon Detachment Judge Advocate), led the Pledge of Allegiance, our Chaplain, Joe Duquette, did the Invocational prayer.

Shawn Buck introduced the distinguished guests before they each spoke. This included Major General Mikolaities, Governor Ayotte, Senator Hassan, Senator Shaheen, and Congresswoman Goodlander. Between the speeches of Governor Ayotte and Senator Shaheen the Choir sang a beautiful arrangement of the poem “Flanders Fields”.

The featured speakers program then began with Cody Dumont introducing the two Marines he had chosen to speak. 1^st Sgt. Leon Rideout spoke passionately about the need to pass the Richard Star Act in Congress which would correct the injustice of retired veterans’ disability benefits being counted against their pensions. “A Song for Unsung Heroes” by the Choir followed: very appropriate to the subject matter of my speech which dealt with Defense Secretary Robert McNamara’s ill-advised “100,000” Project (a deliberate drafting of physically and mentally unqualified recruits during 1966-1970, Vietnam War) and the results of that program.

“America the Beautiful” followed, and then Commandant Dumont assisted Governor Ayotte in laying the Memorial Day Wreath. After Chaplain Duquette’s fine Benedictory prayer, the firing detail of seven men, made up from all the state MCL detachments performed the 21-gun salute, and the bugler played taps (regally played on a “Herald Trumpet”).     

Our next FUNday Breakfast is scheduled for June 27th.

Please join us for our next FUNday breakfast at 0800 at the Airport Diner for the FUNday meet-n-greet breakfast @ 2280 Brown Avenue, Manchester to join in on all this fun! We gather the last Saturday of each month.

Hope to see you there!

We will be taking the summer off, and will resume on the third Wednesday of the month of SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER,

Please let me know if you will be able to attend in June, as that will affect seating arrangements.

All the best to each of you.

Love and Smiles in advance!

Pat Anthony, Associate Member

Manchester Marine Corps League #542

603-782-3077 

At the April Detachment membership meeting, Cody Dumont, Commandant of the Department of NH presented GSD 542 member Chris Peirce with the Department of NH Marine of the Year Award. The following was read during the ceremony.

For professional achievement in superior performance of his duties as a

Marine, we honor Chirstopher Peirce as the Marine of the Year for the

Department of New Hampshire Marine Corps League.

Christopher has been a member of the Granite State Detachment #542 since 2020 and has the distinction of serving his country first as a Marine and a soldier.

After leaving the service Christopher has continued to serve his country and community by working tirelessly to help veterans wherever and whenever there is a need.

Christopher has supported his detachment by providing the benefit of his

wisdom and experience, but also as the judge advocate through very difficult times and on more than one occasion, was the only officer remaining and thereby prevented the dissolution of the detachment.

Christopher served as the Commandant, Sr Vice, Jr Vice, and other billets as needed, while the Detachment searched for qualified members to hold these roles. He often performed the duties of several vacant offices, while

simultaneously mentored others into their new roles.

Christopher not only works within the Detachment and Department, but is frequently found assisting various other veteran groups as well.

Christopher is continuously volunteering on several various veteran

awareness hikes ranging from 5 Kilometers to 22 Kilometers, connecting

various other veteran groups together with each other.

He serves tirelessly on several veteran councils and provides a voice for all

veterans throughout the state to benefit not only the League, but the greater veteran community.

Christopher truly embodies what is meant by taking care of the troops first.

Christopher’s dedication, professionalism, perseverance, and commitment to excellence reflects great credit upon himself, his family, his Detachment and the Marine Corps League, and is keeping in the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and Naval service.

CONGRATULATIONS CHRIS!

Thank you to all that made the trip to Lebanon, NH during the Granite State Detachment Charitable Gaming days in May. If not for the volunteers to cover the table, we would not have had a presence at the event which is important for the players at the casino to know who their play supports in the community. We will not know what our proceeds for these 10 days will be for about another week, but rest assured, we are working on a plan as to how we will distribute these funds back into the community, right now.

Below: Paul Coutu and Chris Peirce covering the information and donation table at Revo Casino in Lebanon, NH.



#PlayLikeARebel #RebelsWithACause

On May 23, 2026, GSD 542 Commandant Eric Anthony participated in the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Arjun Puninchittaya.

Dear Members of the Marine Corps Association and Valued Customers of The Marine Shop,

I am writing to share an important update regarding the future of The Marine Shop, the retail arm of our association, and to do so directly and with the respect you deserve. 

After careful deliberation, MCA has made the decision to transition The Marine Shop’s uniform business to Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS). This transition will occur deliberately, with continuity, quality and customer service as our guiding principles. This decision was not made lightly.

The retail operating environment has changed. Ensuring a secure and reliable uniform supply—one that meets the needs of Marines today and into the future—has become increasingly complex for retailers. Manufacturing pressures and the continued decline of domestic production now require scale, infrastructure and logistics depth to manage effectively. MCCS is uniquely positioned to meet those demands.

As the Marine Corps’ enterprise retail and services organization, MCCS brings the sourcing capability, systems and retail knowledge necessary to sustain uniform availability, quality control and pricing stability over time. In my judgment, this transition is the most responsible way to ensure Marines continue to receive the uniforms they require—when and where they

need them—without disruption.

The Marine Shop team has earned its reputation through professionalism, attention to detail and a deep understanding of what Marines expect. We are working closely with MCCS to ensure those standards carry forward. The experience customers associate with The Marine Shop—knowledgeable support, quality of our products, and respect for the customer—will

remain central throughout and after the transition.

As we are transitioning our uniform products and services to MCCS, I am pleased to announce that we will continue to offer mission-aligned retail products that focus on preserving our heritage, professional development and Marine Corps lifestyle. In the coming month, MCA is launching The Marine Corps Association—The Book Store, as an e-commerce-only platform.

Through this online store, MCA will continue to offer carefully curated non-uniform apparel, books, historical works and heritage-focused merchandise that reflect the legacy and values of the Marine Corps. You can view the website at www.thebookstore1775.com​.

As CEO, it is my responsibility to ensure decisions remain sound not only today, but years from now. I firmly believe this transition does exactly that. Thank you for your trust and continued support of the Marine Corps Association. We will continue to communicate as this transition progresses.

Semper Fidelis,

Charles G. Chiarotti

Lieutenant General, USMC (Ret)

President & CEO, Marine Corps Association

During the April GSD Membership meeting students from the Central High School Chaos 131 FIRST Robotics Team gave a presentation to the membership. Five students of the team shared what the team was about and how being a part of the group has affected their lives.

They advised us that two well-known Marines graduated from Central High School, Rogers Blood and Rene Gagnon and that the bell from the ship named after Blood is located at Central High School and is rung every Memorial day during their ceremony.

The students and team mentors did a wonderful job explaining about FIRST and their hopes of qualifying for the national competition in TX. They are raising money for the team to travel and participate in the national competition if they qualify this coming weekend.

GSD 542 donated $1000 to their fundraiser which helped them travel to TX for the national finals which they did qualify to go to.

At a recent meeting the membership of Granite State Detachment 542 approved a donation to the Manchester Meals on Wheels organization. Below is GSD 542 SVC Jesse Stufflebeam presenting the check to Zach Paone, Director of Development for Meals on Wheels.

At the April GSD 542 Membership meeting we invited the NH Troopers Association to present them with funds that were approved at a previous meeting.

Trooper John Janocz from Troop B in Bedford and an enlisted Marine for five years shared a little bit about what the NH Troopers Association does and how funding like GSD 542 helps them meet those objectives. An example that he shared was that they covered the travel costs to have four troopers from NH go to an out of state service for a fallen trooper.

For more details on how they support the community please visit

https://www.nhtrooper.org/. A check presentation was done with John Janocz, Eric Anthony and Sara Steffen.

At the June GSD 542 Membership meeting a check was presented by Eric Anthony to Kaylee Bass, member and representative of the local Boy Scout troop that the detachment donated funds to purchase a canoe trailer for the troop. This donation was made name in memory of a member that has passed, this is the Dan Fedor Campership Scholarship. We hope to have pictures in the future with Kaylee presenting the check to the troop and will share those in the next newsletter.

From member Sara Steffen about her son and his accomplishments with being accepted into the John Philip Sousa National High School Honors Band.

A few things about Noah…. Noah plays multiple instruments with his main instrument being the euphonium. He is also a student athlete at Goffstown High School and is on the Varsity Volleyball team. 

Noah’s dad served in the USMC and has many family members that served and continue to serve our country. He was selected for NH Allstate last year and this year made 1st seat. Noah was also participated in music festivals held at UNH and Plymouth State University. Noah enjoys helping veterans and volunteers with the GSMCL. To the right is a picture of Noah with Sgt. Selmer from when he played with the 39th Army Band last Veterans Day.

If you are interested in learning more about the John Philip Sousa National High School Honors Band performances and about the organization in general, please go to Festival | John Philip Sousa National High School Honor Band. The tickets should go on sale soon for the July 12-15th festival.

Bingo at the VA Hospital is on the 3rd Sunday of the month.

Each month the GSD 542 MCL members volunteer to help the residence of the VA to play bingo. If you are interested in helping your fellow veterans and have some fun in the process, please contact Joe Duquette.

Our next Marine Corps Bingo will be on Sunday, July 19, 2026 and then August 16, 2026. We meet at the lower level parking lot at 12:30pm.  VA Hospital at 318 Smyth Road, Manchester.

Please call Joe Duquette if you are available to volunteer. 603-540-9807

GSD 542 volunteers from the January 18, 2026 Bingo event at the VA. Left to right, Eric Anthony, Joey Duquette, two sons of Sara, Sara Steffen, and Joe Duquette.

We are starting a list of businesses in our area that offer discounts to Veterans. If you know others please email us at granitestatemarines542@gmail.com .

Bass Pro Shops - Hooksett

The Home Depot

Lowes

Tucker's Restaurant -Bedford, Hooksett, and Merrimack

T-Bones - Bedford, Derry, and Concord

VIP's Tires and Service - Bedford -offers discounts for veterans and offer free NH state inspections, check their website for other locations for their offerings.

For a list of Veteran Owned Business in NH please visit: www.veteranownedbusiness.com they have a listing of discounts based on location.

9/16/25 The Homeland Heroes Foundation (Limited time offer) www.Homelandheroesfoundation.org - they recently received a call from a local roofing company that would like to donate two new roofs to veterans in need. The company is willing to go from the Mass border to Rochester, NH. If you know of someone with this need please contact the editor of this newsletter Jo Zurwell and she will get the contact information.

Running errands, busy day, lists to finish

“You a Veteran?”

A thought- Guess he can read the words on the hat

The answer, “Yes sir I am.”

“What did you do?” Here we go

“Corpsman, as in Medic with the marines”

“Wow, I bet you saw some stuff.”

Unsaid, you think?

“Some, a few things I saw, a few.”

Thoughts flow

Can’t have the details though

Not yours to have. They’re mine to keep

Sure, I saw things, still do

A pittance of what I lived

Sights, sounds, tastes, smells

Fear and anger, rage and joy, all there

They’re mine “Thank you for your service’”

Meant? Or just a phrase to repeat because you heard it?

Don’t matter, don’t matter, move on

“Appreciate it sir – Have a good day.”

A message from Doc - I am willing to listen to any veteran's story and try to construct a poem for them. Done a number of them. So if anyone is interested, they can reach out to me.  For Doc's email click here.

At our December membership meeting, member George Robinson let the group know about an organization that veterans and military members can go to and enter drawings to receive free tickets to local events. He mentioned that he had received tickets to a few events since he has started using it, and it is easy to use and he thought he would share with the full detachment.

Veteran Tickets Foundation's Tickets for Troops Program is dedicated to giving back to those who gave us so much. We team up with major sports teams, leagues, promoters, organizations, venues and every day event ticket holders to provide free tickets to currently serving and veterans of all branches of the US military.

To find out more about this site, please check out their website by clicking the button below.

Get one year of LinkedIn Premium and LinkedIn Learning for free.

In collaboration with SheerID, LinkedIn offers eligible members of the U.S. military community one year of access to LinkedIn Premium. You’ll also get unlimited access to more than 10,000 courses through our LinkedIn Learning platform as a part of the program.

Click on the button below and it will bring you to a form to fill out to sign up for one year of free usage of LinkedIn.

Some of you may have noticed that back in May our Facebook page was no longer published on the social media site. It seems that someone attacked (hacked) our page and made it so that it was unpublished and no mater what we did to fix it, nothing worked.

Therefore, we have had to recreate our Facebook page with a slightly different page name.

Below is the link for the new page, we ask that you go to the page and click the follow button so that you can see all of our posts.

The eight-point Veteran’s Creed is:

1.   I am an American Veteran

2.   I proudly served my country

3.   I live the values I learned in the military

4.   I continue to serve my community, my country and my fellow veterans

5.   I maintain my physical and mental discipline

6.   I continue to lead and improve

7.   I make a difference

8.   I honor and remember my fallen comrades

Source:  https://www.vfw.org/media-and-events/latest-releases/archives/2018/6/veterans-organizations-establish-veterans-creed

Granite State Detachment #542 MCL has partnered with Revo Casino and Social House with the NH Charitable Gaming in the last couple of years, and has been selected to participate again this year.

The funds we receive from our assigned days at the Lebanon, NH Revo Casino will be designated to support local NH based Marine and Veteran organizations or individuals in need.

#PlayLikeARebel

Below please find some links for the VA website that may be helpful to you.

Outreach events

VA benefits can help Veterans and their families buy homes, earn degrees, start careers, stay healthy, and more. Join an event for conversation and information.

Outreach Materials

Use our outreach materials to help Veterans manage their journey with VA and learn about their benefits.

State Departments of VA Offices

Select a state or territory below to visit the website for that location’s Department of Veterans Affairs office.

Download or Print out your VA Welcome Kit

Whether you’re just getting out of the service or you’ve been a civilian for years now, the VA Welcome Kit can help guide you to the benefits and services you’ve earned.

Monthly Member Meeting - Every 2^nd Tuesday at 1800 for the detachment meeting at the American-Canadian Genealogical Society at 1 Sundial Ave., Suite 317, Manchester, NH 03103.

Upcoming Meeting Dates

July 14, 2026

August 11, 2026

September 8, 2026

Monthly Breakfast -Every last Saturday of the month at 0800 at the Airport Diner for the FUNday meet-n-greet breakfast @ 2280 Brown Avenue, Manchester.

Upcoming Breakfast Dates

June 27, 2026

July 25, 2026

August 29, 2026

September 26, 2026

New England Division Conference - Replaces Quad State - June 11th - June 14th, 2026

Members of the Marine Corps League join together in camaraderie and fellowship for the purpose of preserving the traditions and promoting the interests of the United States Marine Corps. 

Our mission is to voluntarily aid and render assistance to all Marines, FMF Chaplains, FMF Corpsmen and former Marines, FMF Chaplains and FMF Corpsmen and to their widows and orphans. 

Our Membership Coverage Area is the greater Hillsborough County with some towns in Rockingham County. For the full list of towns we encompass, please check out our membership page on our website.

Monthly Meetings

When: Monthly Meetings of the Granite State Detachment are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month

Where: The American-Canadian Genealogical Society (ACGS), 1 Sundial Ave, Suite 317, Manchester, NH 03103

Time: Meetings begin promptly and 1800



Info: Membership is not a requirement for attendance and guests are always welcome to attend these events.

2025 Officers

You have received this email because you have subscribed for a newsletter at https://www.granitestatemarines.com. We will never sell or share your information, and will be used for informational purposes only. You can always unsubscribe from our mailing list, by clicking on Unsubscribe.