• Henderson Hall Renews School Partnership
• A Night in Little Havana
• Oktoberfest Held at Marine Club

June 6, 2008

Henderson Hall Renews School Partnership

A power outage and heat did not deter the Henderson Hall Single Marine Program participants from attending the monthly council meeting in the MDCXXX Lounge. Before the meeting got underway, the group heard from Kim Durand, Volunteer and Partnership Program coordinator for Arlington County Schools, who expressed excitement about renewing the partnership in existence with Barcroft Elementary School since the early 1990s.

Henderson Hall’s partner school is South Arlington’s Barcroft Elementary School just ten minutes away off Columbia Pike. As far back as October 1990, Major (now Lt. Col.) Bruce A. Averitt tutored students with special circumstances there through the Marine Tutor Buddy program. He made a commitment each Tuesday to volunteer in the tutoring center. “I was a volunteer at Barcroft,” he said. “It’s great working with the kids, especially the bilingual kids.” 

School Liaison Officer Michael Flaherty is coordinating the program. “My job as the Henderson Hall School Liaison Officer besides providing support to our Marine families with any educational needs their school-age children may have, especially with transitions from one duty assignment to another, is to create and foster partnerships with area schools. Everyone benefits from the Partner in Education (PIE) program.”

Bottom:  LCpl Miller, LCpl Azar, LCpl Lugo, PFC Edwards. Top:  LCpl Turner, Cpl Williams, Mr. Michael Flaherty (School Liaison Officer), Ms. Kim Durand (Arlington County Volunteer and Partnership Program Coordintor), Ms. LauRae Upchurch (SMP Coordinator), Cpl Sawyerr, PFC Vaughn.

Mr. Flaherty spoke with Ms. Miriam Hughey-Guy, Barcroft Elementary School principal, who shared that she is very proud of the fact that the Marines have been an integral part of the Barcroft Elementary School students’ success. She expressed to Mr. Flaherty her appreciation for the time and attention the Marines have given to her students in the past.

Ms. Durand said that Arlington County has a “great relationship with Henderson Hall that allows the students to interact with people who make a difference in the world.” Benefits to students include that “students feel a connection to the community so that they can see themselves as something bigger.”

The Partnership in Education program pairs volunteers from local organizations to “give students individual attention, assist with academics, and provide support in raising students’ expectations for success,” according to the Arlington County Partnership Handbook. “Partners can really make a difference in the schools that they work with, helping students feel a part of the community outside of the school's walls.”

Rita Treadwell, former MCCS Education Officer, started the original Marine Tutor Buddy program in 1990. Begun as a community service program to serve as lunchtime monitors, the program evolved into a tutoring program. “I went to the principal to find out the school’s needs, which turned out to be more tutoring in math and reading,” said Treadwell.  Ms. Treadwell arranged for training for the Marines to teach them how to read to the children and how to improve their math skills.” The program was honored as the 400th daily “Point of Light” under President George H. W. Bush.

In his remarks at the March 11, 1991 Point of Light Award Presentation Ceremony for the Henderson Hall/Barcroft Elementary School Adopt-A-School Program, President Bush said, “[L]ook at how the Henderson Hall Marines became your ‘Tuesday Tutors’ to help you in school. They’ve shown that caring is one of the best solutions that there is.” (http://bulk.resource.org/gpo.gov/papers/1991/1991_vol1_247.pdf)

Ms. Treadwell reminisced, “The relationships Marines built with the students were like having another family for them to go to.” The children appreciated the mentorship, as some of them looked up to the Marines like siblings.

The Henderson Hall Partners In Education program is not just for single Marines. If you are interested in volunteering at Barcroft Elementary School, please contact Yasmine Bell, the Henderson Hall Volunteer Coordinator, at 703-614-7200.

June 13, 2008

A Night in Little Havana

by Doriann Geller, MCCS Marketing Officer

It felt like June in Havana, Cuba, Saturday evening at Marine Club. With temperatures soaring near 100 degrees, the Marine Corps Community Services “A Night in Little Havana,” planned for the Marine Landing Deck, was moved indoors to the Marine Club dining room. The change of venue, however, did not deter nearly 50 patrons from coming out to attend the dinner.

The guest of honor was Cpl. (Ret.) Michael L. Jernigan, a Marine blinded in Iraq in 2004 and the first recipient of a guide dog from the Southeastern Guide Dogs’ Paws for Patriots project. The project has provided more than 91 guide dogs to visually impaired military personnel who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. During dinner, Jernigan’s guide dog, Brittany, lay quietly at his feet.

Special guest Bobby Newman of Southeastern Guide Dogs sponsored the event. Southeastern Guide Dogs Southeastern Guide Dogs’ mission, according to their website, is “to create a partnership between a visually impaired individual and a guide dog, facilitating life’s journey with mobility, independence and dignity.” Mr. Newman is also Executive Vice President of J. C. Newman Cigar Company, oldest family-owned premium cigar maker in the United States.

The evening opened with wine-tasting from vendors from The Vineyard and Scotch-tasting from Glenfiddich brand ambassador Heather Greene. After social hour, guests were seated in the dining room and treated to a four-course dinner prepared by the staff at Marine Club under the direction of Executive Chef Ray Chen. Appetizers were grilled rosemary prawns presented on skewers. The salad course, grilled heart of romaine with shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and garlic crisps, followed. The entrée featured grilled New York strip steak with peppercorn crust. Dessert, bread pudding with butterscotch drizzle, was served to conclude the meal. Service was impeccable, under the tutelage of Marine Club manager Stephen Shibler.

Mr. Stephen D. Gilchrist (L), an employee of the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security, presents Cpl. (Ret.) Michael L. Jernigan with
a DHS organizational coin. Mrs. Jernigan looks on. Gilchrist was so
moved by the corporal’s story that he left the dinner to return
with the coin to present it personally.

While MCCS does not endorse sponsors, many of those attending were moved by the mission of Southeastern Guide Dogs and the eloquence with which Cpl. Jernigan spoke. Often quoted as saying that he would “do it again,” referring to serving his country in the fight that took his sight. “It's a small price to pay," Jernigan said, according to the Herald-Tribune.com.

Because smoking is not permitted indoors, the cigar smokers adjourned outside where camaraderie and laughter filled the humid evening air. The event ended abruptly, however, when a sudden thunderstorm moved in, forcing the guests to stub out their cigars and move indoors. Mr. Newman called “A Night in Little Havana” a “first class affair” and one he hopes MCCS will do again.

Oktoberfest Held at Marine Club

Submitted by MCCS

The strains of oom-pah and smells of sauerkraut filled the air Saturday evening as the Marine Club held Oktoberfest. The staff at the club prepared authentic German foods for the dinner buffet, and The Bavarians, a traditional four-piece German band, paraded through the Marine Corps Exchange, attracting attention and delighting shoppers and staff, before playing three sets at the club.

The Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc., offered beer tasting. Many of those attending took the opportunity to sample the brews from Redhook Ale Brewery and Widmer Brothers Brewing Company. The alliance gave out bottle openers to participants.

Battalion Marine Sgt. Chris J. Herbert bested Mitchell Endslex in the arm wrestling contest, taking home a large German drinking glass as a prize. Numerous door prizes were drawn for, including gift certificates to German Gourmet on Columbia Pike and Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe on Culpepper Street, both in Arlington.

MCCS plans select special events throughout the year. The event was sponsored by AT&T and Navy Mutual Aid Association.

The Bavarians made a musical pass through
the Marine Corps Exchange to promote
interest in the club’s Oktoberfest.


Stacey Huffman (l) of Craft Brewers Alliance, Inc.,
offered beer tasting.


Sgt. Chris J. Herbert and Mitchell Endslex
arm wrestle as club manager Stephen Shibler
looks on as judge.