2007 Sponsorship Appreciation Day

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC)

On October 12, 2007, Follies Co-Founder and Director of Marketing Mary Jardin and other sponsors of Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) toured the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) in Twentynine Palms, California, as part of the base’s first-ever Sponsorship Appreciation Day. This unique opportunity to tour a working military base provided attendees with a panorama of new sights and a host of unforgettable memories. The following are some of Mary’s favorites:

“After an (early!) morning command briefing by G5 Director James Ricker, the other sponsors and I pose with the MCCS staff for a ‘class photo’ in front of the Officer’s Club at the beginning of the tour. The base is roughly the size of Rhode Island, so we have no idea where the day will take us. But we’re eager to begin!”	“The base’s Cultural and Archeological Curation Facility is devoted to the many treasures that have been discovered at the 1,700 archeological sites on the base. Here, we get a lesson on the local flora and fauna from archeologist John Hale.”
“In addition to housing 11,000 Marines, soldiers and sailors, MCAGCC provides hundreds of square miles where the endangered desert tortoise is safe from commercial development and guarded against non-native predators. Here, ecologist Dr. Brian Henen introduces us to ‘Thelma’ and ‘Louise.’ (They’re the ones with shells.)”	“Supervisor Mike Quintana (in the hard hat) explains the process of collecting, crushing and reusing spent ammunition casings at the base’s Hazardous Waste Munitions Plant. The Plant is the largest of its kind and recycles 2.8 million pounds of ammo every year! Bullets can be recycled?!”
“The base’s primary mission is to train Marines and other servicemen and women, particularly for duty in the deserts of the Middle East. To that end, a mock Iraqi village has been constructed, complete with tunnels from building to building, such as those used by insurgents in Baghdad. Lance Corporal Nicole A. Lavine demonstrates for us.”	“A platoon practices the rescue of a ‘wounded’ comrade. Just a drill, but I can’t help thinking that by the time you read this, these same Marines will be facing real life-and-death emergencies thousands of miles from home.”
“Major Michael R. Glass demonstrates robots used to identify and detonate IEDs and other explosives in the field. The machines cost from $5,000 to $435,000 each, but that’s not expensive when you consider that robots like these take the place of live Marines in deadly situations.”	“Marketing Director Kathryn Crank (left) and Sponsorship Coordinator Nina Gallagher (right) present appreciation awards to each of the sponsors in attendance. In thanking us, Nina reminds us of what this is really about: her own brother is finally coming home after 18 months in Iraq. In these difficult times for military volunteers and their families, how can we not provide whatever support we can muster?”
“Hob-nobbing with the commanding general’s wife! Filomena Spiese and I discover we share a heritage as Portuguese-Americans. Wonder if I can get her recipe for Bacalhau?”	“Sgt. Maj. William Johnson is the third-highest ranking officer of the base, but he finds time in his busy schedule to greet MCCS sponsors. If anyone in our group was wondering whether our support efforts were appreciated, they aren’t wondering any more!”

“It was truly a privilege being granted access to the base. I hope everyone there knows how much we appreciate their time and effort in showing us their jobs and their amazing facility. I can’t fully express what an honor it was to meet and interact with so many extraordinary Marines that day, but it was an experience I won’t soon forget.”

Mary Jardin, Follies Co-Founder and Director of Marketing