Donations sought for
memorial to fallen Marines

By Brian C. Louwers
C & G Staff Writer

WARREN — The noblest of causes. World-class beer.

It was a match made in heaven, a place from which the 22 fallen Marines of the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment undoubtedly smiled on their comrades, friends and family members who gathered on Jan. 22 at a fundraiser for a memorial in their honor.

The special Belgian beer-tasting event, hosted by Champane’s Wine Cellars, on 13 Mile Road in Warren, drew about 200 people in support of the Michigan Marine Corps League and the 1/24 Memorial Fund’s efforts to construct a permanent memorial at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

The reserve battalion’s headquarters and service company is based at Selfridge, while its three rifle companies — Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie — are based in Grand Rapids, Saginaw and Lansing, respectively. The battalion’s weapons company is based in Perrysburg, Ohio.

Twenty-two of the battalion’s Marines were killed in action during deployment to Iraq in 2006-2007.

Among them was Marine Sgt. Bryan Burgess, 35, of Westland, who was shot by a sniper during combat operations in Fallujah on Nov. 9, 2006.

Burgess’ mother, Evie Burgess, attended the event in honor or her son and the other fallen Marines.

“He was only there for six weeks when he was killed,” Burgess said, adding that her son did not tell her that he would be going back into harm’s way until just before he shipped out.

When he left her, Burgess offered high praise for her beloved son.

“I said, ‘You’re a gift from God, and I was blessed to have you for 34 years,’” Burgess said.

Of the benefit, she added, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Angelo Lema Jr. of St. Clair Shores is a retired Marines master sergeant and the chairman of the 1/24 Memorial Committee.

He told the group that while plans for the memorial are still in the works and the details have yet to be determined regarding its exact location, the committee will not stop working until the funding is secured for the memorial to honor those who chose to put their lives on the line, and paid the ultimate price for freedom.

“Probably a lot of people think, ‘Oh you’re just a reservist.’ This goes to prove that these men were not just reservists, they’re Marines,” Lema said.

Dean Champane, owner of Champane’s Wine Cellars, said his father served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. When he was approached about hosting the benefit, he gladly agreed.

“When we were approached to do this fundraiser in 2009, we said, ‘absolutely,’” Champane said. “As soon as they told us what the cause was, there was no question. We were in.”

Among the dozens of Belgian brews poured at the tasting, Champane said there was one wine — a Napa, Calif., vintage known as “Jarhead Red,” made “by Marines, for Marines.” Net proceeds for the sale of the wine go to benefit the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.

Supporters also sampled a tasty condiment made in Gettysburg, Pa., called  “Gung Ho Sauce.”

Other donated services for the evening included designated drivers from Warren’s Last Call Services Inc. Mike Morrisroe, the new company’s president, is a Marine who said he jumped at the chance to donate the $20 fee for a safe ride home for guests and their vehicles to the cause.

For more information about the 1/24 Memorial Fund and the men it will honor, and for more about how you can make a donation, visit http://1-24battalionmemori al.bravehost.com/index.htm.

Donations can also be sent to the Marines Corps League, P.O. Box 450117, Selfridge ANGB, MI 48045.