201807.23
0

Newport Beach group holds car wash to help 1st Battalion, 1st Marines attend annual Marine Corps ball

by in News

NEWPORT BEACH — Efforts to show support for a highly decorated Camp Pendleton Marine Corps battalion proved successful over the weekend, not only for the Marines but for the community.

Nearly 200 people came out on Saturday, July 21, for the Newport Beach 1st Battalion 1st Marines Foundation car wash fundraiser which benefits the battalion’s Marines and their families.

  • PFC Mateo Sanchez, originally from Denver Colorado, gets the hubcaps clean July 21, 2018, as he and other Marines from the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines at Camp Pendleton hold a car wash at Newport Dunes to raise money for Marine couples to attend the annual Marine Corps Ball.
    (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)

  • Marines from the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines at Camp Pendleton wash a Mustang as they hold a car wash at Newport Dunes to raise money for Marine couples to attend the annual Marine Corps Ball.
    The 1/1 Marine Foundation will hold another car wash August 11, 2018 at the same location.
    (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)

  • Sound
    The gallery will resume inseconds

  • Marine FFC Nicholas Apple reaches to dry a windshield July 21, 2018, as he and other Marines hold a car wash at Newport Dunes to raise money for Marine couples from Camp Pendleton to attend the annual Marine Corps Ball.
    (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)

  • Marine Lance Cpl. Orlando Farias, original from Yakima, Washington, rinses off a car July 21, 2018, as he and other Marines hold a car wash at Newport Dunes to raise money for Marine couples from Camp Pendleton to attend the annual Marine Corps Ball.
    (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)

  • Marine Lance Cpl. Deneil Hall, originally from New York City, washes the hubcaps July 21, 2018, as he and other Marines hold a car wash at Newport Dunes to raise money for Marine couples to attend the annual Marine Corps Ball.
    (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)

  • Lance Cpl. Andrew Reinhold, originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, wears a shirt from the 1/1 Marines Foundation as he helps wash a Ford July 21, 2018, as Marines from the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines at Camp Pendleton hold a car wash at Newport Dunes to raise money for Marine couples to attend the annual Marine Corps Ball.
    The 1/1 Marine Foundation will hold another car wash August 11, 2018 at the same location.
    (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)

  • Marine Cpl. Matthew Long, originally from Sacramento, dries a freshly washed car July 21, 2018, as Marines from the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines at Camp Pendleton hold a car wash at Newport Dunes to raise money for Marine couples to attend the annual Marine Corps Ball.
    (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)

  • Marine Lance Cpl. Nathan Apodaca, originally from Carson City, Nevada, left, and PFC Mateo Sanchez, originally from Denver Colorado, helps wash a Lexus with the help of other Marines July 21, 2018, as Marines from the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines at Camp Pendleton hold a car wash at Newport Dunes to raise money for Marine couples to attend the annual Marine Corps Ball.
    The 1/1 Marine Foundation will hold another car wash August 11, 2018 at the same location.
    (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)

of

Expand

The event, held at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, raised more than $2,000.

Foundation board members, local residents and about 50 Marines from the battalion showed up to wash cars. Lt. Col. Bryon K. Grayson, commander of the battalion and Sgt. Maj. R. M. Olmos Jr. came out to meet supporters and provided information on what the battalion does.

Funds raised from this car wash will go toward helping Marines attend their annual Marine Corps Ball in November.

“It is important for me as a Marine no longer on active duty to support the Marines of the 1st Battalion 1st Marines,” said Paul Garcia, who served with the 1/1 in Vietnam and is now director of the 1/1 Marine Foundation. “It is one of the most highly decorated units in the Marine Corps and I feel that it’s important for the community to build bridges and understand the sacrifice these young Marines face in protecting our wonderful country and the freedoms we all enjoy.

“Our Newport Beach 1st Battalion 1st Marines Foundation is very proud and much appreciated by the unit for all the support that we are able to achieve throughout the year.”

The battalion was adopted by the city of Newport Beach in 2003 and the foundation was created to assist the Marines with emergency family needs, community programs and unit social programs.

Saturday’s car wash was one of three held annually. The foundation also holds summer barbecue and picnic events, coordinates turkey drives for Thanksgiving and Christmas and hosts an annual Christmas Party for Marines and their families.

On Aug. 2, the foundation will pair Marines with Junior Lifeguards for the Newport Junior Life Guard “Monster Mile.” The year’s final car wash will be held at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort on Aug. 11.