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Last month, Commandant Mark Grimley invited me to a meeting of the Marine Corps League.

This local Lance Cpl. Alan D. Lam Detachment 1209 Inc. meets the third Monday of every month at the Integrity Community Church, 2420 Corporation Parkway #H, Burlington.

This detachment was named after the first Alamance County service man to die in Iraq, 19-year-old Alan D. Lam of Snow Camp.

Any former honorably discharged Marine and their spouses are welcome. There are many different ways and varied tasks that they need help, such as Honor Guard ceremonies for local families, visits to the VA Hospital in Durham and entertaining the patients.

Having been in the Marines from July 1953 to July 1957 and then worked in the VA at Durham for six years (1978-1984), things sort of clicked for me. It had been about 55 years since I arrived at Parris Island, S.C., but I could still feel the camaraderie and fellowship that is instilled in you. I feel sure that is where the saying "Once a Marine, always a Marine," comes from. Once you complete your training, the pride that is instilled in you stays with you.

The group is hoping for another great year in its Toys for Tots program. This program will buy toys for needy children in Alamance County.

Part of the group's mission is to band together, promoting the interest of the Marine Corps and to offer assistance to all Marines and former Marines, as well as their widows and orphans.

The group is expanding its membership, so if you are interested, call Grimley at 524-0426.

The fifth National Marine Corps Family Conference will be July 25-27 in Chantilly, Va., and is open to spouses, parents, children, friends and anyone interested in supporting those who serve. To find out more, visit www.marineparents.com or call (608) 513-1966. To find more military family resources, visit www.militaryspouse.com.

At the Burlington meeting, they had a speaker from the VA in Durham, Rashonna R. Avery, a recreation therapist.

The VA has four state licensed and nationally certified recreation therapists, one board certified music therapist and a recreation assistant. They are offering new programs each year for our veterans.

Kendra Monden, chief recreation therapist, can be reached at (919) 286-0411, Ext. 6874. The games and events and many other activities are made possible by donations received from different organizations. The Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center Recreation Therapy is there for our veterans, and the healing begins with fun.

Ernest C. White (ewhite18@triad.rr.com) is a resident of Gibsonville and retired master sergeant and civil servant.