Sergeants Major meet at Miramar

9/17/2011 By Lance Cpl. Erica DiSalvo , Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar hosted the 2011 West Coast Sergeant Major/Master Gunnery Sergeant Reunion with a formal dinner and a midday picnic Sept. 16 and 17.

The reunion was a two-day event consisting of a professional dinner at The Palms restaurant located in the MCAS Miramar Memorial Golf Course club house and a picnic the following day at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum located on the north side of MCAS Miramar.

These events included catered meals followed by brief speeches given by guests of honor. Each day’s event was wrapped up with an address on Marine Corps history and the heroism of fellow service members. This year’s reunion included speeches by Sgt. Maj. Scott T. Pile, sergeant major of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Col. Robert F. Leary, chief of staff for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

“I was honored when Sgt. Maj. Jenness [the command sergeant major of MCAS Miramar] called me to speak, it is good to get to talk to an audience filled with so much experience and love for the Corps,” said Leary, a Brockton, Mass., native.

The annual event alternates between various Marine Corps bases along the west coast.

“This year was Miramar’s turn to host,” said Sgt. Maj. Roger E. Jenness, a Boston native. “It rotates between each of the west coast bases around here each year, and this year our name came up.”

In the past, reunions have been focused on an aspect of Marine Corps history, and this year was no exception. This year spotlighted the Corps’ aviation history. The museum was chosen to not only support the historical aspect of the air station but to remind everyone of the upcoming MCAS Miramar Air Show Sept. 30 through Oct. 1, explained Jenness.

A total of 72 guests took part in the two-day event and were awarded various MCAS Miramar products such as glass drinking mugs, commemorative brochures and desktop-size Marine Corps Flags for their attendance.

“This is just a wonderful event to get everyone together to reminisce and hang out,” said Jenness. “I was happy to host it. It was great to see everyone together.”

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.-Guests of the 2011 West Coast Sergeant Major/Master Gunnery Sergeant Reunion pose for a photo in front of a UH-1 Iroquois during a picnic at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum located on the north side of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Sept. 17. The reunion is an annual event held as a way for all former and active-duty E-9 Marines along the West Coast to reunite over a formal dinner and a casual picnic., Lance Cpl. Erica DiSalvo, 9/17/2011 10:17 AM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.-Staff Sgt. Tomina J. Ward, left, a career planner with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron and a Danville, Ill., native, and Cpl. Rachelle M. Kovach, right, an administrative specialist with H&HS and an Andover, Ohio, native, sign in guests at the 2011 West Coast Sergeant Major/Master Gunnery Sergeant Reunion picnic at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum located on the north side of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Sept. 17. Seventy-two retired and active-duty E-9 Marines were in attendance during the two-day event consisting of guest speakers and catered meals. , Lance Cpl. Erica DiSalvo, 9/17/2011 8:25 AM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.-A color guard with Marine Corps Air Station Miramar performs during the 2011 West Coast Sergeant Major/Master Gunnery Sergeant Reunion professional dinner aboard MCAS Miramar Sept. 16. The reunion is a two-day event inviting all E-9, retired and active-duty, Marines from the West Coast to participate in a social gathering featuring guest speakers and dinner at The Palms restaurant. , Lance Cpl. Erica DiSalvo, 9/16/2011 2:51 PM