Granite State Detachment 542, Marine Corps League

Greater Hillsborough County Area

Members and Associates of the Granite State Detachment,

September 12, 2026

Yesterday I attended the Hampton NH commemoration of the 25th anniversary of 9/11. There were speeches about the courage, sacrifice and resilience of individual Americans and the remarkable unity with which we as a nation responded to the terrorist attacks of that day.

A long list of the names, ranks and service branches of the local combat fatalities from the subsequent war on terror was then read, followed by the playing of taps and our MCL firing detail. Would it surprise you to know that the majority of this solemn list were Marines? We are one of the smaller armed forces; but large in our commitment.

Reflecting on the events of this quarter, covering late spring into summer, our detachment has encountered considerable external challenges, particularly in the collapse of a collaborative effort with another detachment to mount a Marine Corps Ball. Disappointing and unforeseen as that and the results of it were, nevertheless, we have met and exceeded fundraising and disbursement goals, continue to serve veterans and our community in multiple ways, reflecting our individual and corporate abilities and commitment. 

I am proud to lead this detachment as I see your efforts and abilities continuing to work in unity to make our organization an effective one in meeting its worthy goals.

--- Eric Anthony, Commandant, Granite State Detachment

📣 Call for Leadership:

Senior Vice Commandant Needed

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

The SVC’s position is important to the Detachment for these general reasons:



• Coordinate detachment fundraising events,
• Assist and support the Commandant, to prepare for succession to the Commandant’s office, and to back up the Commandant when absent,
• SVC should be a major contributing force to the success of the Detachment. He/she should provide knowledge and influence in assuring the achievement of Detachment goals and operations.

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.

📣 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.

                         Autumn

Thank you for the changing seasons, oh Lord, and the crisp, fresh air. The fall season has an invigorating energy to it. It lift our spirits & clears our minds,

Grant us wisdom to share our thoughts & patience in our discussions with others. Let’s look forward to our MCL goals & plans for its future.

We can look forward to the many activities we have planned. The MCL luncheon, Veterans’ Day our own MCL Ball & the fundraiser to allow us to assist Marines in need.

God Bless the Marine’s, FMF Corpsmen, those with us & those who have left us.

Amen

Joe Duquette, Chaplain  

Third Quarter 2026 Paymaster Report

As summer draws to a close, GSD #542 has completed a productive third quarter of 2026. Through our partnership with Revo Casino and Social House in Lebanon, New Hampshire, the detachment received a $60,382.54 donation. Fundraisers held at Market Basket and Bass Pro Shops during July and September generated additional funds for the GSD #542 bank account during the quarter. These contributions will support GSD #542’s continued efforts to assist veterans and community organizations throughout the Greater Manchester, New Hampshire, area.

Fundraiser Recognition

I would like to recognize all the volunteers who generously contributed their time and effort this summer to make these fundraisers successful. I would also like to extend special thanks to Kevin Brown, who dedicated weekends to supporting each fundraising event.

The commitment of these volunteers of their time and effort not only helps raise funds for the detachment to donate to charitable organizations but also increases public awareness of GSD #542 and the Marine Corps League. Their efforts help inform the community about our support for veterans and local community organizations.

Third-Quarter Donations

Donations made by GSD #542 to various organizations during the third quarter were as follows:

August 2026 Building Dreams for Marines $2,000

September 2026 NH Military Suicide Loss Memorial Monument

at the NH Veterans Cemetery $1,000

Steffen Family Foundation

Grief and wellness support for surviving military and first responder’s spouses and children $1,000

Renewal of Membership Dues

Please be reminded that September is the annual renewal period for GSD #542 Marine Corps League membership dues. Although several renewal notices have been sent, payments have not yet been received from some members. I encourage these members to renew their membership dues of $35 at their earliest convenience.

We greatly value every member’s participation, which helps make GSD #542 one of the finest Marine Corps League detachments in New Hampshire.

Support and Appreciation

During this period, internal personnel changes led to the departure of Senior Vice Commandant Jesse Stufflebeam. His valuable contributions and support to both me and the detachment are sincerely appreciated.

We also welcomed and installed several new members to GSD #542, further strengthening the detachment’s membership.

In closing, I extend my sincere appreciation to GSD #542 members and to those members from other detachments throughout the state who have personally contacted me and offered continued support for my commitment to GSD #542 during this challenging quarter.

As Paymaster, I remain dedicated to ensuring that the detachment’s funds are managed responsibly and in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures of the Granite State Detachment and the Marine Corps League.

Have a wonderful fall season, Marines!

Respectfully submitted,

Marge Romano

Our next FUNday Breakfast is scheduled for September 26th.

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!

In August a few members of GSD 542 went up to the Lebanon, NH Revo Casino and Social House for the big check photo event.

The Granite State Detachment 542 MCL is extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Revo Casino and Social House Charitable Gaming program as the funds received go toward supporting our mission of supporting Marines, Veterans, and the greater Manchester community.

Thank you to all those that helped at the photo shoot, we felt very welcomed.

Pictured left to right: Eric Anthony, GSD Commandant, Paul Coutu, GSD Sgt-at-Arms, Marge Romano, GSD Paymaster, and Andrew Peck, Table Games Manager at the Lebanon Revo Casino and Social House.

#PlayLikeARebel #RebelsWithACause

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, September 20, 2026 and then October 18, 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 July 2026 Bingo event at the VA. Left to right, Joe Duquette, Sara Steffen and her two sons.

Thank you to all the volunteers that came out to Market Basket on June 26 and June 27 for the GSD Fundraiser. With the help of the volunteers and that of all the wonderful shoppers who made donations during these two days, GSD is able to continue our mission to support Marines, Veterans, and the community.

Kevin Brown and Eric Anthony

Jim Ambrose and Jesse Stufflebeam

August 4, 2026 - GSD 542 Commandant Eric Anthony and Paymaster Marge Romano and Mary Ann Diekmann went with Pauly Labbe to the memorial stone dedication for her husband Maurice Labbe at the Easterseals Campus in Franklin, NH. The detachment purchased the stone in recognition for all the amazing work that Maurice Labbe did to help start the GSD detachment.

On July 18th, 2026, GSD member David Freschi and the Chester Rod and Gun Club conducted a fundraiser shoot with the proceeds to come to the Granite State Detachment to be used to further the mission of the organization.

Marge Romano & David Freschi

Joe Duquette & David Freschi

Resupply scheduled soon

A few more klicks of humping

Ammo, medical, batteries

And the “beloved” cases of c-rats

No clean clothes though

Another 3-4 days with blood stiffened fatigues

Choppers in the distance thump

Dust, twigs, weeds swirl choking

Drop made, now the rushed sorting

Unit 1 supplies first, more bandages

Then the rations in those special “lightweight” cans

Stuffed in socks, they’ll gain weight

As steps go by the trading starts

Scored two peaches and a fruit cocktail

Wealthy now, serious bartering power mine

Two Ham and Limas for a can of peaches?

Not gonna happen, no way

Throw in two breads- please Doc

Even the VC throw that crap away Cpl.

You do look desperate though

Here’s a deal, if you want it

Two pound cakes and your beer ration

Done! Capitalism, gotta love it

“Saddle up” Charley won’t wait

And young men move to meet others

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.

The 9/11 25th Anniversary Ceremony event had a monument honoring all of the service members of all branches from New Hampshire that lost their lives in the Gulf wars after 9/11/2001. See the picture of the monument. It has been an annual event since 2006.

The Marine Corps League detachment #394 has been performing a firing detail for this event for many years. Participating were: Dick Lak, Brad Howe, John Flagler, Jim Ambrose, Eric Anthony (GSD 542 Commandant), and Chip.

On July 18, 2026, GSD members Chris Peirce and Sara Steffen joined the Hidden Battles Kayak With A Mission event at Wellington State Park Beach in Bristol, NH. All money raised gets donated to Swim With A Mission, a Local New Hampshire Non-Profit who we have partnered with since Hidden Battles was started. Check them out at SWAM.org to learn more.

In August, 2026, Building Dreams for Marines held their annual golf tournament fundraiser. GSD was a sponsor of this event. A few of our members covered the "Money Hole" and had a great time raising funds for a great cause!

Marge Romano

Paul Coutu

Teresa Hamlin, Marge Romano, Lauri (both daughters of Marge) came out to help with the event.

In the last quarter, the Granite State Detachment was pleased to welcome two new members to our organization. We are pleased to have Marines John Janocz a NH State Trooper, and Mike Sousa a ham radio enthusiast as new members of GSD.

Eric Anthony, Joe Duquette, and Paul Coutu, swear in new member Jonathan (John) Janocz.

Eric Anthony swearing in Michael (Mike) Sousa.

Marge Romano commissioned GSD member Dennis Mitchell to make a wooden flag in her support of his trip to Oklahoma in October for a reunion with his boot camp buddies. These are the same types of flags that Dennis will make for the detachment to raffle off at various fundraising events. - Beautifil work Dennis!

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

A couple of the GSD members enjoyed the Veterans fishing trip back in June.

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.

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 2025 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 matter 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

October 13, 2026

November 10, 2026

December 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

October 31, 2026

November 28, 2026

December 26, 2026 - this may change as we get closer

Department of NH MCL Quarterly Meeting - September 27, 2026 - GSD 542 hosts this meeting at ACGS 1 Sundial Ave, Suite 317, Manchester, 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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