Marines Name Martial Arts Hall

The United States Marine Corps on August 2, 2004 dedicated its new $1.5 million home for the Martial Arts Center of Excellence on the grounds of The Basic School at the Quantico, Virginia Marine Base.

The School was named "Raider Hall" in honor of the WWII United States Marine Raiders. The following speech was made by Charles Meacham, President of the United States Marine Raider Association.

DEDICATION OF RAIDER HALL

QUANTICO, VA – AUGUST 2, 2004
Good Morning, I would like to thank you for the privilege of being here today to represent the United States Marine Raider Association. A very special thanks to BGen. John R. Allen and Col. James B. Laster for their collective and individual assistance in making this day possible.

May I extend our heartfelt appreciation to all those responsible for this grand and honored event. I can’t express strongly enough how much we, as an association and individually, are honored, gratified and humbled that this outstanding training structure is being named “Raider Hall”. It makes us all very proud to know that the Raider name will live on long into the future and, hopefully, in the hearts and minds of those who will train here.

How well I remember our days and nights of exhaustive training and how it all paid off once we found ourselves on the battlefield. In our day we didn’t have such a fine facility, filled with the state-of-the-art, high tech equipment that this new Raider Hall will offer. We old Raiders are delighted to know that our Marines will lead into battle in even better shape than we were.

Our pride in and affection for the men and leaders of Detachment One, our “Born Again Raiders” is boundless, as is our confidence in their ability to defend our freedom by conquering those who would destroy our great country. Every surviving Raider, their families and the families of former members of the Four Marine Raider Battalions of the First Marine Raider Reg., First Marine Amphibious Corps of World War II who are no longer with us, are extremely honored and proud that the dedication of this facility in their battalion’s name will have a symbolic and significant effect on those Marines who will train here. Detachment One is well on the way to creating their own heritage and reputation of being the finest and best at their business, that their country can offer. To the officers and men of Detachment One, all of us old time Raiders say, “God bless you and Gung Ho!”

We World War II Raiders are of the past, but would it surprise you to know, that even in our old age, we still have a vision for the future? A vision of the Marine Raider Assocation's Vouza Scholarship fund, that was started to help the needs of Solomon Islander children whose fathers, grandfathers and uncles were such a tremendous help in assisting us Raiders in defeating a very tough and formidable enemy so many years ago. I am both pleased and proud to tell you that the promises we made to them then are now promises kept, and are funded through the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation well into the future thanks to the generosity of members of our Raider Association, their families, and friends.

Another significant accomplishment of our small group of World War II warriors is our recent contribution to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. Another vision accomplished.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, a vision of the Marine Corps Detachment One, U.S. Special Operations Command – “The Born Again Raiders” morphing into RAIDERS! They will be our replacement battalion as we World War II Raiders take up our higher calling of guarding the “Pearly Gates”.

We have a vision of the United States Marine Raider Association going on into perpetuity, with these young warriors standing in our place, continuing our traditions and establishing new traditions of their own. Please know, Detachment One, that you go forward with the full confidence and support of your World War II predecessors.

I have been asked many times, “At your age why are you spending so much energy, time and resources on the U. S. Marine Raider Association?” My answer is, “ Because I love my brothers.” Why do I love the United States Marine Raiders? I love the Marine Raiders because of their “Gung Ho” spirit – a philosophy and belief that’s misunderstood by many today. As you know, “gung ho” means to work together. We lived that out in both training and combat.

In simpler terms we defined it as looking out for the Marine on your right and the Marine on your left. We understood then, and still do, that there’s nothing more important in almost all of life’s situations. I knew when in combat that the Marine Raiders on my right and on my left were willing to give their lives for me, and they knew that I would do the same for them. This belief was impressed upon our souls, and it remains in our character today.

I love the Marine Raiders because we all loved each other with the most profound type of love. This did not originate with us, but was spoken of 2,000 years before our time, when Jesus said; “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

Why do I love the Marine Raiders? How could you not love a band of brothers like these?

To all of you “New” Raiders: Pick up our baton and carry it to victory wherever and whenever you are called. Carry it with our undying admiration.

On behalf of all Marine Raiders of World War II, Thank you… God bless you… Semper Fidelis and Gung Ho!

Charles Meacham,

President - United States Marine Raider Association

Press report of dedication of Raider Hall