The MCL 708 Honor Guard provides the Honor Guard Funeral Honors to all veterans within our community. These honors include a full rifle squad, a bugler, and a Chaplin Service Full Flag Folding Ceremony. The MCL 708 Honor Guard includes all veteran volunteers who are dedicated to ensuring all veterans who have served, obtain the appropriate honors as a final salute to their life and the final demonstration of the country’s gratitude to those who, in times of war and peace, have faithfully defended our nation. Over the past year we have serviced 139 funerals. National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida has picked the volunteers of the MCL 708 Honor Guard to conduct the Unattended Service.
Presenting the Colors is a military tradition dating back to the beginning of our country. MCL 708 Color Guard is comprised of members who are Marine Veterans. They attend many Hernando Community events including Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Independence Day, Community Parades, and School Events.
The basic mission of the Marine Toys for Tots Program is to collect new unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children in the Community at Christmas. Marine Corps League Detachment 708 has been supporting the Toys for Tots program for 10 consecutive years, supplying some 27,000 plus families for the holidays over that time frame. We continue to reach out to businesses in Hernando County as well as individuals for donations.
The Marine Corps League Detachment 708 supports the five major high schools in Hernando County with scholarships for the senior graduating class. The MCL 708 also offers scholarships to Jr ROTC (Cadets) as well as the Marine Corps League scholarships.
The Marine Corps League works closely with the Veterans of Hernando County giving them a place they can call home away from home. We support the VA Clinic with a coffee cart, offering coffee and snacks to the doctors, nurses, and staff as well as the patients. We donated a TV and did the installation in the patient waiting area. We have also sent transportation for veterans getting to the hospital when there was no other form of transportation available. We also help veterans pay for electricity, gas, and/or mortgage when no other means of support is available. We also offer transportation to events so veterans can enjoy happenings in the Hernando Community.
The Young Marines is for boys and girls, ages eight through high school graduation. It focuses on strengthening the lives of America’s youth by teaching the importance of self-confidence, academic achievement, honoring our veterans, good citizenship, community service, and living a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The Young Marines promotes the mental, moral, and physical development of its members. The program focuses on character building and leadership and promotes a lifestyle conducive to being productive members of society.
General James (Hammer) Hartsell, Executive Director - Florida Department of Veteran Affairs is pictured. General Hartsell is also a member of the Marine Corps League Detachment 708.
