Granite State Detachment 542, Marine Corps League

Greater Hillsborough County Area

Members and Associates of the Granite State Detachment,

Have you ever served on a jury? A jury consists of a random group of people called upon to make life-changing decisions, criminal and civil, of financial and personal destinies. They must arrive at appropriate compensation or penalties, guilt or innocence for parties legally involved in the case before them. All this is done often with little assistance except the bare legal outlines given by the judge. This huge burden, deciding on another human being’s fate or financial future is balanced with the selfish desire to get home and come expeditiously to a verdict. Contrary opinions and an obstinate juror must be dealt with and a compromise reached. What is amazing, under the duress of this situation, is the knowledge, experience and diplomacy that can emerge from this group of strangers who probably never met and will never see each other again. 

Likewise, all of us in the Marine Corps League deliberate and act to the benefit of the veterans and community we serve. And, often due to our military experience, the same corporate genius surfaces to complete our mission. The different backgrounds and professions of our members get the job done and done well. Perhaps by how we direct our activities and fundraising we can change lives and destinies for the better?

To that end the detachment is instituting a Donations Review Board to ensure our funds are allocated predominately to veterans and precisely to those areas of greatest need.

It has been an exciting and active summer. We have now successfully navigated two of our major fundraising events, (Memorial and Labor Day), taking part in at least three honor firing details and one funeral ceremony (for a member of the detachment). Besides our connection with the state’s charitable gaming in Lebanon NH, with Marge, our Paymaster, accepting their donation check at that location, we have also received from the Chester Rod & Gun Club, a huge donation, product of a whole day’s event, (which I attended, and even managed to murder a couple of skeets!), exclusively dedicated to our detachment by member “Doc” Dave Freschi. In all of these events I was constantly impressed, and as Commandant, humbled, by the dedication, commitment and expertise I see emanating from our membership.

--- Eric Anthony, Commandant, Granite State Detachment

We are thrilled to announce that at the September Membership Meeting, Commandant Eric Anthony appointed Jesse Stufflebeam as the new Senior Vice Commandant. Jesse graciously accepted the appointment and is eager to learn the responsibilities of the role and get started.

Please join us in welcoming Jesse to the Board of Trustees!

Semper Fi

Volunteer for GSD #542 Fundraising Events – Let’s Make an Impact!

Hello GSD #542 Members,

Our last fundraising event for 2025 is scheduled for Friday November 7th and Saturday November 8th at Bass Pro Shops in Hooksett, NH.

Please check your calendars and use the SignUp Genius link below to see available time slots. Sign up for what you can—every contribution helps!

Next Event: Veterans Day Fundraising Event

📅 Date: Friday November 7th, Saturday November 8, 2025 📍 Locations: Bass Pro Shops - Hooksett, NH

Thank you for your dedication and support. Let’s make this a success!

Semper Fi,

Office of Senior Vice Commandant

📣 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.

Thank you, God, for the gift of work, pleasure & our ability to serve others.

We ask for strength and guidance for our Marine Corps League Officers.

Bless our efforts and the efforts for those who work as well as our retirees. 

God Bless all Marines and those who have passed on.

Bless our FMF Corpsmen & all Chaplains, through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Amen

Joe Duquette, Chaplain  

Joe Duquette, Chaplain

THIRD QUARTER 2025

PAYMASTER REPORT

The third quarter of 2025 was once again a very active period for fundraising and volunteering efforts by the members of the GSD #542.  July and September fundraising events at Market Basket and Bass Pro Shops added to the Detachment’s capability of being able to donate to various Veteran’s and community organizations during the third quarter including the NH Troopers Association, Building Dreams for Marines, Greater Manchester Boys and Girls Club Summer Camp sponsorship and the VA Medical Center Bingo program for residents of the Community Care unit.        

The Detachment’s continued involvement with the Charity Gaming at the REVO facility in Lebanon, NH has also contributed tremendously to the GSD #542 donation capability through 2025 and will further provide and enhance the Detachment’s ability to substantially help Veterans and community organizations in the upcoming year of 2026. For more detailed information, please refer to each month’s Detachment meeting minutes to review the monthly Paymaster Report.

As we approach the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2025, I again encourage GSD #542 members to become involved in the Detachment’s volunteer efforts; whether it be “manning a post” at a fundraiser venue or attending one or more of the Veterans Organization events scheduled during the upcoming quarter which includes the exciting celebration of the 250^th Marine Corps Birthday!

HAPPY 250^TH BIRTHDAY, MARINES!

Respectfully submitted,

Marge Romano

250th Marine Corps Birthday - November 10th

November 10th - Marine Corps 250th Birthday - Event Packed Day

• Marine Corps Flag Raising at the NH State House at 7:30am
• Followed by Breakfast at Windmill on Loudon Road, Concord
• Manchester Expeditionary Brigade - 10:30 am - 2:00 pm at the Derryfield Country CLub, Manchester, NH
• Department Marine Corps Ball, 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm at the Easterseals Campus, Franklin, NH - see the below image for more details

Register for the Department Marine Corps 250th Birthday Ball

Have you registered yet? The space is filling up fast, the time to register is now! Simply to go https://nhmarines.org/marine-corps-250th-birthday-ball/ or click the button below to go to the Department's website to register.

To reserve your seat and your plus one, there are three options, MCL member, Marine and not a MCL member, or a civilian. Select the one that applies to you. If you are a MCL member, click the button and enter the Member ID on your membership card and you are registered for your and your plus one! If you are in the other two categories the steps are only a few more and all the directions are on the website.

We look forward to seeing a packed house of red hats at this momentous occasion.

Semper Fi

Robert "Bob" Renda

July 15, 1945 - July 5, 2025

Robert "Bob" Renda, 79, of Marco Island, Florida, passed away on Saturday, July 5th, 2025. He was born on July 15, 1945, to Irene (King) and Salvatore Renda. Bob was raised in Chelsea, MA and was a graduate from Chelsea High School, where he was voted "Best Looking". He was a football star and held state records in track and broad jump.

Bob went on to attend college at Kansas University, where he ran track and played football before he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He proudly defended his country, completing two tours in Vietnam. Bob married the love of his life, Bonnie (Solomon) of Revere, Ma on July 22, 1977. The couple had a son Ted and raised their family in Revere. Bob spent his career working as a carpenter for the local 218 and as a court officer for Lynn District Court. 

MCL members at the Honor and Firing detail for Robert Renda at the NH State Veterans Cemetery on Wednesday 7/16/25. Not shown are two American Legion members in full dress that performed the firing detail with us. Bob Niver, Eric Anthony, Dick Lak, Robert McCain, and Mike Martioski.

Bob Niver was the commander for the detail and all went very well and professional.

Howard R. Cox, 81, of Dunbarton, NH, passed away Monday July 21, 2025 at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on May 15, 1944 in Reading, MA, a son of the late Howard G. and Evelyn (Rogers) Cox. He had been a resident of Dunbarton for the past 7 years, formerly living in Derry, Manchester, Clermont FL and Crystal River, FL. Howard proudly served his country in the US Marines where he served as a helicopter mechanic HMH461. He spent a long career as a computer programmer before pursuing a career as a corporate pilot. Howard was a member of the Rotary Club International and received the Paul Harris Fellow Award.

Harold R. Cox

May 15, 1944 - July 21, 2025

The MCL of NH came together at the Forest Hill Cemetery, East Derry to perform an military Honors detail, with two Marines to perform the flag folding ceremony. Below are some images from this morning with the MCL members Mark Lindsey, Eric Anthony, Richard Pettengill, Jim Ambrose, Brad Howe NCOIC, and Jim Covatis on the bugle.

CHESTER ROD AND GUN GLUB FUNDRAISER DONATION

                                               By Marge Romano

On July 12^th, 2025, under the direction of David “Doc” Freschi, the Chester Rod and Gun Club held a fundraiser shoot in memory of long-time club member, David L. Hamilton who unexpectedly passed away on February 18, 2025.

In David Hamilton’s honor, a total of $1675 was raised by the members. At the club’s August membership meeting, a donation check of the $1675 was presented to Eric Anthony, Commandant of the Granite State Detachment #542 Marine Corps League. The generous donation will enable the GSD#542 MCL to help make an impact in the many Veterans organizations that the Detachment supports.

In a continued show of support of Building Dreams for Marines' mission, the Granite State Detachment 542 of MCL presented our donation of $2,000 at their Golf Tournament in August 2025.

This donation will help bring needed help to Marines in the greater Manchester, NH area.

In August, Eric Anthony, Commandant, Marge Romano, Paymaster, and Sara Steffen joined together for a check presentation to the NH Troopers. The Goffstown High School Mental Health Awareness Softball Game in memory of David Steffen, Sara's husband, raised $241 and the Granite State Detachment matched the funds and together we donated $500 to the NH Troopers Association.

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 int he process, please contact Joe Duquette.

Our next Marine Corps Bingo will be on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. We meet at the lower level parking lot at 12:30pm.  VA Hospital at 318 Smyth Road, Manchester.

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

July 5, 2025 GSD 542 volunteers came out in force to support the MCL mission and raise funds to support veterans in the greater Manchester area. We had tables at the Market Baskets in Bedford, Hooksett, and Manchester. With the support of the patrons of Market Basket we raised fund that will go a long way to support fellow MCL members, Marines, and veterans in our service area. Below are some images of from this wonderful holiday weekend at the fundraising tables.

Kaylee Bass, Mary Ann Diekmann, Eric Anthony, and Pauly Labbe at Market Basket - Bedford, NH

Jim Ambrose and Kevin Brown at Market Basket - Hooksett, NH

Joe Duquette at Market Basket - Hooksett, NH

Steve White and Jo Zurwell at Market Basket - Hooksett, NH

Kevin Brown at Market Basket - Hooksett, NH

Joey Duquette at Market Basket - Hooksett, NH

August 30, 31st our members took some time out of their Labor Day weekend to cover the fundraising table at Bass Pro Shops in Hooksett, NH. Below are a few images from that fun weekend with the kids and dogs and patrons of Bass Pro Shops.

From one of our volunteers from Sunday, Jim Ambrose, wrote the following:

"The event was conducted both Saturday and Sunday at Bass Pro. Other members of the Granite State detachment were there on Saturday.

It was a most enjoyable event as there were so many people interested in what we do to help veterans in New Hampshire. As always we give out mini "flags on a stick". Not only popular with the adults but the instant smiles of all the kids when presented with a flag was priceless!

As always, it was an honor to be part of this event.

  Best Regards and Semper Fi, Jim Ambrose

Jim Ambrose and Kevin Brown

Steve White, Marge Romano, and Kevin Brown

Steve White, Marge Romano, and Kevin Brown

Jim Ambrose and Kevin Brown

Thank you to all the volunteers that came out for these two events. We look forward to seeing you and some new faces at the next fundraiser in November and in 2026 so that the GSD 542 MCL can continue to support Marines, veterans and the greater Manchester area.

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.

Read about your passing

Silver Star on that last battle

We never had much interaction

Pretty far down the totem pole I was

Wondered how anybody could be such a straight arrow

Squared away always, aloof, demanding

Always surprised, the places you’d turn up

Walking posts in jungles’ night, a quiet word

Dropping into sick bay, quiet glances at corpsmen

Read the citation, enemy broke the lines

Overrunning, the next chapter coming

You, a full colonel, grabbed a squad

8-10 young marines and the CO

Sealed the line and bloodied Charlie

Battalion held and moved the enemy, to defeat

Your humanity too, I saw

The flick of pain moved across your face

As those pink forms you signed, your lost troops

And I saw goodness and leadership

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

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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.

Our next FUNday Breakfast is scheduled for September 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!

Hope to see you there!

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

October 14, 2025

November 11, 2025 - Subject to change

December 9, 2025

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

September 27, 2025

October 25, 2025

November 29, 2025

Upcoming Events

November 10th - Marine Corps 250th Birthday - following events

• Marine Corps Flag Raising at the NH State House at 7:30am
• Followed by Breakfast at Windmill on Loudon Road, Concord
• Manchester Expeditionary Brigade - 10:30 am - 2:00 pm at the Derryfield Country CLub, Manchester, NH
• Department Marine Corps Ball, 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm at the Easterseals Campus, Franklin, NH

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

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