2016 Battalion Reunion Update

The First Battalion Fourth Marines Association Reunion

Dates of Reunion – 17-21 August 2016

Hotel & Rates

Sturbridge Host on Cedar Lake
Hotel and Conference Center

366 Main St
Sturbridge, Ma 01566

Phone: (508) 347-7393 – Fax (508) 347-3824

Make reservations in name of 1st Battalion 4th Marines Association

Cut-Off Date for Registration – 27 July 2016

Hotel

Take a look

Free Parking at Hotel

Room Rates are $100.00 per night, breakfast for two included in room rate.
Room rates apply for Two days before and after reunion.
There are Smoking and Non-Smoking rooms available.
We have the run of the house, all rooms – single, double, triple and quaud.
Pool Side, Lake Side and Parlor are only Smoking Rooms

Important Notice:

Those flying into the Reunion, we ask that you try to fly into the Logan Airport.  Once on the ground walk out of the terminal and catch the Express Bus to Framingham, Ma.  It will cost $12.00 for the trip.  Once at that terminal a Hotel Van will be waiting for you or you can contact the hotel to let us know you’re at Framingham.

If you fly into Bradley International you will have to come into the reunion at you own expense.

Reunion Agenda Update has been made – 1 May 2016
The Basketball Hall of Fame and Springfield Armory are tours for Free Day, Thursday 18 August – These tours are pending on participation. Please contact Neil Downey or Peter Cignarella for details. Their contact information is listed below.

Contact for Information
Peter Cignarella – cigsemperfi67@aol.com – 617-775-0410
Neil Downey – iggybearbedo@yahoo.com – 413-593-9126

Reunion Agenda
17-21 August 2016
Sturbridge, Ma.

Sturbridge Host on Cedar Lake
366 Main St
Sturbridge, Ma 01566
Phone: (508) 347-7393 – Fax: (508) 347-3824
Make reservations in the name of: 1st Battalion 4th Marines Association

Registrations must be received by: 27 July 2015

Group Room Rates are: $100.00 per night. Smoking and Non-Smoking Room Available

Rates or for two days before and two day after reunion. Reservations can be made by phone above or online below.

Hotel Registration

Important news:

Those flying into the Reunion, we ask that you try to fly into the Logan Airport.  Once on the ground walk out of the terminal and catch the Express Bus to Framingham, Ma.  It will cost $12.00 for the trip.  Once at that terminal a Hotel Van will be waiting for you or you can contact the hotel to let us know you’re at Framingham.

Contact Peter Cignarella – cigsemperfi67@aol.com – 617-775-0410 / Neil Downey – iggybearbedo@yahoo.com – 413-593-9126 for information.

If you fly into Bradley International you will have to come into the reunion at you own expense.

17 August – Registration & Meet & Greet (Hotel Lobby) Dinner on your own, with many fine dining opportunities for every budget. Hospitality Suite will also have plenty of food and drink available.

18 August – Thursday- Free Day- Hospitality Suite will be open-vast expanse of grounds plus lake-side beach- “Olde Sturbridge Village”, a reproduction of a Colonial New England Village, with re-enactors and exhibitions of Labor and Crafts from that time period (18thc) Across the road from the Hotel

 1 May 2016 – Reunion Agenda Update
The Basketball Hall of Fame and Springfield Armory – These tours are pending on participation. Please contact Neil Downey or Peter Cignarella for details. Their contact information is listed on the Reunion Agenda, above.

19 August – Friday Buses to Boston & Seafood Dinner at “The Clam Box”, Quincy. Buses will leave from the Hotel at 10:00 am, for a one hour ride to Boston, (Cost $20.00 per person) you may:
A. Walk about and tour on your own
B. Take advantage of “Olde Towne Trolley Tours” at a cost of $40.00 per person, you may:
a. Stay on the Trolley for a NARRATED Tour
b. Get off and on as you see things that might interest you, such as “Old Ironsides”, or “The Historical District”.
Trolleys come by about every fifteen minutes at each stop. Show your ticket or bracelet at each stop to re-enter the trollies.
C. Take an Amphibious DUCK Tour, which includes both land and water sites, cost per person, $30.00.
Each of the Trollie and Duck tours offer Senior discounts.

At 4:00 pm, we will meet back where the Buses dropped us off to go to Quincy for a fish dinner at a cost of $20-25.00 per person.  Senior discounts are in order.
We will return to the Hotel for 1830

20 August – Saturday- Association & Auxiliary Meetings in The Hotel- BBQ in the evening at Leonide J. LeMire VFW Post 6055 in Southbridge, MA (Transportation will be provided for those in need of same. Post is less than 5 Miles from Hotel)
Day’s Schedule as Follows:
10:00 am – Association Meeting & Auxiliary Meeting
Held in Separate large rooms.
12:00 pm – Lunch on your own and Free Time
3:30-4:00 pm – Start heading over to VFW for the following:
5:00 pm -Posting of The Colors & Service Flags
5:15 pm – Blessing by Chaplain and commence Dinner *
6:30 pm – Reading of Poem followed by Our Speaker for the evening, Author and Survivor of “LOON”, Jack McLean
7:30 pm – Auction
9:00 pm – Retire the Colors and return to Hotel.

21 August – Good-Byes until next year

*BBQ, Chicken, Ribs, Brisket, and three side dishes at $22.00 per person

Updated: 21 December 2014

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Dear brothers and family members of 1-4:

My prayers and love go out to all of you… Memorial day hit me like the others but I welcomed other thoughts that came to me that my Heart would not let me forget.  We all Respect and Honor Our Dead and those who have gone before us especially those we shared life with while humping the Monsoon Rains and the heat and death of Vietnam Nam. We tried not to get too close because this brother could be dead that evening or the next day; but we shared a little and the little is how we remember this brother today.  I was in Vegas when 29 Brothers came forward and spoke of their best buddies or closest Nam Brothers who they shared the last part of their lives with.  When it comes to remembering a Brother before he goes down or gets blown up or goes silently in a fire fight.  We remember what we talked about and that interaction between two brothers before one is dead – We may have talked about what we are going to do once back in the world or how good it was to receive a goodie package from home – filled with real peanut butter or Dr Shoals foot powder and cookies your Mom made.  No matter what the conversation we will never forget our last conversation – one minute alive then gone Dead- Oh God in Heaven it was so hard to see his dead body and think the many things we still think. Yes we just finished Memorial Day and we all spent it differently but the heart felt memories are the same and now that we are 65,68, 70 going on 19 where we stopped as boys and became Men of the Marines -,Our lives, Our Minds and Our Hearts were left 13,000 miles away where we fought to keep each other alive!!! Attention Attention there is a combat Marine in His Dress Blues or Greens or even his Fatigues Reading this and feeling GOOD about Espirto de Corps – SEMPER FI MY BROTHERS It’s another Memorial day but guess what we are still alive and we need each other to now survive “Old Age” Give that Wife or Girlfriend or if any of the children are around make a Loving statement, “Thank You” for being in my life and thanks for being my life time Friend and Love.  Hope to see you all in South Carolina’s Reunion and thanks for allowing me to serve you as your Chaplain.

Peter A. Cignarella M.ED. USMC

Comment 2

Subject: Montford Point Legacy

I have been asked by a friend and Brother of 1-4 Bn. 3rd Marine Division and as a Chaplain for all my Brothers who know what is Tattooed on our Hearts under the name Lord Jesus Christ reads: Semper Fi ; that is “Always Faithful”

Andy Anderson Alpha Company 1-4 1969 Viet Nam Combat Wounded. Andy told me of a Marine Deacon in his church that inspired a young Mr. Anderson to not only follow his love for Our Lord Jesus but wanted to join the Marines because of what the Montford Marines taught him about Love of your Brother, and how to turn your cheek if insulted or hit verbally.
I don’t know Nathaniel Menefee on a personal level, but because of his position as a Deacon at your Missionary Baptist Church -I know him Spiritually as we are teachers of the Word and we are both Combat Marines. I have heard how our brothers were the first Black Afro Americans to train as Marines and Graduate from Montford Point and I can only speculate how difficult these times were for Our Heroes during training and then be sent to Load Ammo on a ship or the front lines to keep the Ammunition supplies at the ready.

From 1775 thru 1941 is a long, too long of a period to have kept Black Americans out of the Marine Corps and as History has shown us that the Politicians and Bigots that were making Decisions were Morally Wrong. Our Brave Black Brothers never quit but endured all the Hatred and Vile talk against them. What kept me alive all these years especially in Combat in Viet Nam was Faith, Hope and Love and the greatest of these was Love. Andy Anderson can tell you of some of the Rituals we used to keep each other alive and to Mourne a Dead Brother while placing a Dead Marine on a Chopper – headed for Da Nang to be bagged and shipped to Okinawa…

I have a retired Priest friend who once said to me “Don’t count your blessings because God the Father and the Holy Spirit are counting them for you.. I must while thanking my Lord, I would like to thank Eleanor Roosevelt who visited Camp Jejeune N.C. And asked where are the Black American Marines and the ANSWER she received was we don’t have any!!!

Well Mrs Roosevelt gave her Report to her Husband President Roosevelt and thus getting the Opening of Montford Point training for Black American Men to become U.S. Marines .. Within the Gold Medal that Deacon Menefee has is a tribute to all Our Black Americans, who Graduated from Montford Point and the Inscription reads : “FOR OUTSTANDING PERSEVERANCE AND COURAGE;THAT INSPIRED SOCIAL CHANGE IN THE MARINE CORPS …

This is not only a Marine Corps change, but Values for all Americans to look at and adhere too… I would like to pray and thank Deacon Menefee for his part in changing attitudes, Values and the strengthening of not only the Marine Corps but Our Country- The United States Of America…

God Bless you Deacon and “Semper Fi” Sir, for upholding the Values and traditions of Our Marine Corps. May the power of the Holy Spirit continue to bless you and fine young Marines like “ANDY ANDERSON” 1stBn 4th Marines.

Lastly it was my Honor to hear the truth about Montford Point and One Outstanding Man who Serves The Lord who taught him Love and Tolerance and who continues to teach for Our God and Country- Amen- Amen

Your brother In Christ Jesus

Peter A. Cignarella M.ED. CHAPLAIN
1-4 3rd Marine Division.