Brothers and Sisters,
Recently, we took time on Memorial Day to honor the fallen who served this great nation and gave the last measure of devotion so that we can live free and raise our children in a country where anything is possible. As I said when I retired from the Marine Corps in 2019, if I had done anything good in my life up until this point, God had allowed me to survive the Fallujah battle and rewarded me with a beautiful wife and two wonderful children.
Last Thursday, I was reminded of that sacrifice of the fallen as I watched with great hope and pride, my 17 year old daughter, Brooke, cross the stage at Carlsbad High School and receive her diploma. She will go on to attend the University of Arizona this August and I could not be more proud. It is for those members of the Thundering Third that did not make it home from war, for whom we have an obligation to make the most of our lives and show gratitude to our loved ones.
Now that summer is upon us, the 3/1 Association Team could not be more excited about the months to come. There is so much to look forward to and we have a few notes we would like to share with our members.
- Reunion: The staff is working hard on preparation for both the Lima Company Reunion and the 3/1 Mini Reunion this fall. Our Vice President, Melissa Hanks-Ketchel, is reaching out to multiple philanthropic organizations, such as the Warrior Reunion Foundation and the Semper Fi Fund, to provide support for these events. I would like to recognize the CEO of Stay Golden and Lima Warrior, Thomas Praxedes (GySgt USMC Retired), for offering to provide a photo booth for the reunions free of charge.
- 3/1 Association Store: Now that the store is back up and running we recently had orders north of $700. Keep them coming, Folks! You want to be showing up to those reunions with some fresh Brahma Nation SWAG!
- Taxes: Our Treasurer, Tim Sheelen, completed our tax audit and we are in good standing. Regarding annual dues, I was reminded by one of our members that the staff owes our members a receipt for tax purposes. We are a 5013C non-profit and your dues are a donation. Therefore, you should be able to write that donation off on your taxes.
- MDs by the Sea: Dr. Bryan Long was my medical officer during my last three years of service with IMEF. When he retired, he started a VA authorized Tele-Heath practice for Veterans eligible for VA benefits. If you register with MDs by the Sea, you can get immediate medical care from the comfort of your home. Please click the following link and see the symptoms that can be addressed though telehealth: Veteran Affairs (mdsbythesea.com) No more VA appointments scheduled months out or ER visits for basic care, and most importantly no cost or minimal cost to you. This service is covered by the VA. TRUE STORY: I went down like a ton of bricks this recent Memorial Day weekend. I was in Dr. Long’s virtual waiting room, got a diagnosis and then picked up my antibiotics from CVS within an hour.
- Mental Health: We have recognized a problem. The VA and Tri-WEST are very difficult to work with to get quality mental health professionals to work with veterans. Many mental health clinics are not taking new patients who only have Tricare because they are not getting paid. In many instances the copay associated with mental health care serves as a deterrent for veterans because of the state of our current economy. If we are serious about preventing veteran suicide and promoting a fulfilling lifestyle, things need to change and we need to take action. Now that the 3/1 Association is a 5013C, the 3/1 Association Staff is beginning a campaign to raise money and deal with this copay issue. I am teaming up with some Medical Professionals to approach our elected officials and illuminate this problem, starting with Congressman Mike Levin.
- Town Hall: We would like to have a town hall and solicit feedback from all of you regarding the direction the association is going and any ideas you have to grow the membership and mission. Also, if there are any ideas or resources that our members could recommend or provide to support our efforts this year, please SOUND OFF!
Once again, it is truly an honor to be your 3/1 Association President and I look forward to seeing so many of you very soon.
All the best and Semper Fi,
Brian Heatherman
President
3rd Battalion 1st Marines Association
