A few more good men and women are needed to join the ranks of South Whidbey’s Col. Richard “Buck” Francisco Marine Corps League Detachment 1451.

Marines or Navy corpsmen who served alongside Marines are welcome to join, with the requirement being that they provide their DD 214 documentation showing they received either an honorable or general discharge.

Ed Donery, co-founder of Oak Harbor’s Major Megan McClung Detachment 1210, formed a new detachment in 2017 for South Whidbey and Coupeville Marines and has organized many events on the South End. Marine Corps Leagues serve the community through ceremonial events, funerals and parades. Whidbey’s Leagues are known for the hauls of toys, bicycles and gifts they collect at Christmas and deliver to organizations.

The group is named after Richard “Buck” Francisco, who died in 2016. Francisco was a longtime resident with a long list of military and community service achievements, including flying more than 4,000 hours in a Vought F4U Corsair in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

For more information, contact Ed Donery at 360-331-3721.