Marine Corps League Mess Night

Is Feb. 25

The men, women, and guests of Ridgefield’s Marine Corps League will celebrate their annual Mess Night Dinner on Friday, February 25.

“It’s all about tradition,” remarked Frank Kunst, a Marine veteran of the Gulf War, who as “President of the Mess,” will act as the host and master of ceremonies for the evening. “The Mess Night, a very formal and somewhat ritualistic dinner, is a carryover from the practice in British Regiments of formal dinner gatherings which they felt contributed to the unity and esprit of the organization. Such gatherings were often held to celebrate a past victory or to honor a noted guest, or upon the occasion of any other event they deemed worthy of note,” Mr Kunst went on to say.

Stephen Reichenbach, commandant of the Ridgefield Detachment, noted that 2005 marks the 60th anniversary of the battle of Iowa Jima. “The date of our Mess Night, February 25, falls exactly 60 years and six days after the February 19 landings on those coarse, black, volcanic sands of Iwo Jima. We will dedicate this Mess Night to the memory of those who died there, and pay tribute to those who lived.”

Bill Gallo, the sports cartoonist, will be the Mess Night guest speaker. His daily cartoon and Sunday sports column in the New York Daily News reach an audience of three million readers.

The Mess Night represents one of the finest traditions of military institutions, and the Ridgefield Marines consider it to be one of the Detachment’s defining events. This year’s gathering will be held at the Red Lion restaurant on Route 7 in Ridgefield. While dispensing with some of the Mess Night’s more rigorous formalities, the local Marines do closely observe the traditions of the affair, and guests are encouraged to wear black tie or dress uniform.

The Marine Corps Leagues meets monthly at 7 pm on the third Wednesday evening of the month at the League building on Halpin Lane, Ridgefield. Membership is open to anyone who served as a Marine or as a Navy Corpsman who saw service with a Marine unit. An informal gathering is also held Friday evenings around 6 pm and anyone interested is welcome to stop by at either time. For information about membership or attending the Mess Night please call 203-438-4333 or visit the Detachment website at www.orgsites.com/ct/ridgefieldctmcl.