"We won this war..." said Marine Lt. Col. Lowell Rector.
Our Marines Benefit Dinner was a big success. Patriots from all over the Southland gathered at this event which was held Friday evening February 22nd at the Cypress Community Center. The Benefit Dinner was co-sponsored by the Cypress Police Department and the Cypress Church Patriots Ministry.
The evening began with a video presentation of pictures from “Christmas with the Marines” an event held at Camp Pendleton on December 9, 2007. Tom Langan of the Patriots Ministry welcomed guests, and Marine Chaplain Robert Crossan led the group in prayer for our men and women in uniform.
A tri-tip and chicken dinner was prepared by the Cypress Church “Knights of the Holy Grill” under the direction of Dave Austin. Volunteers from the church staffed the buffet line.
The highlight of the evening was a briefing by Lt. Col. Lowell Rector about the real situation in Iraq. Lt. Col. Rector has been in the military since 1983 and is presently executive officer of the Security Battalion at Camp Pendleton. Until recently he was the Commanding Officer of Military Police units in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. While there he opened 21 Iraqi Police Stations and coordinated training and logistics for 2,100 policemen over a 32,000 square mile area.
During his remarks, Col. Rector stated: “the military can win and have won every battle and skirmish. We like to fight for what we believe in, but we can't win the war without the support from home. It takes a country to win the war! We won this war, and now we must continue to help build a new secure, safe, and stable Iraq so the people of Iraq can prosper as a free society."
Christian singer and songwriter Bob Bennett shared his music with the crowd which included Cypress Mayor Todd Seymore, Mayor Pro Tem Leroy Mills and Police Chief Rick Hicks. Others in attendance were members of the Corvette SuperSports Club, Chaplains and Marines from Camp Pendleton, Lt. Kepley and members of the Cypress Police Department and Pastors Mike McKay and Justin McElderry from Cypress Church as well as many patriotic Americans from the community.
The primary purpose of the event was to raise funds for “Easter with the Marines”, an Easter celebration to be held at Camp Pendleton on Sunday, March 30th. This celebration will take place at the School of Infantry Parade Deck from 2:00 PM until 6:00 PM. The Cypress Church "Knights of the Holy Grill" will serve a delicious ham dinner. There will be a color guard, corvette car show, live music, games, prizes and encouraging words for our Marines. Enthusiastic supporters are invited to participate by volunteering or making contributions. More information about the Patriots may be obtained by contacting: Tom Langan at (714) 816-0602 or ForMarines@gmail.com.
View Slide Show of Marines Benefit Dinner