Marine of the Year at Gen. Smedley D. Butler Detachment

At last night's meeting of the Gen. Smedley D. Butler Detachment of the Marine Corps League, the Marine of the Year award was presented by our newly installed Commandant, Paul Ferguson. The Marine of the Year for 2013, voted the honor by members of the Detachment, is Benjamin R. Sides, Chairman of the Detachment's Honor Guard Committee. Marine of the Year is awarded to the Detachment Marine who during the period of consideration has demonstrated by leadership and performance an extraordinary contribution to the Detachment, the Marine Corps League, the community and the nation.  It must be a Marine whose personal conduct has reflected favorably on and has brought credit to the Detachment, the Marine Corps League and the United States Marine Corps. Ben has been in charge of the Marple Newtown Combined Veterans Alliance's Honor Guard.  The Honor Guard performed 185 grave-side ceremonies in 2013 and approximately 200 grave-side ceremonies each year Ben has been in charge. The grave-side ceremony is an honor to which veterans and active duty military personnel of all branches are entitled and which is a comfort to family and friends of those who have served the United States by their military service.