M/Sgt. Wesley Morrett USMC 1942-1963
MCRD San Diego Ca. Plt 383
Tarawa, 2nd Marine Div.
E Batt 2nd Bn. 10th Marines
Guam, Guadalcanal, Viet Nam 5th Marines
Upon attending a funeral service for a fellow marine at the Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside Calif., MSgt Wesley Morrett, USMC (Ret) was appalled there was no Military Honor Guard in attendance! Not wanting to see a repeat for other veterans deserving Military Honors, he ran an ad in the local newspaper calling for a few good Marines! Fourteen responded and seven remained to make up the nucleus of an all Marine Honor Detail!
The first meeting established the name of the detail--Semper Fi #1, the uniform to be worn dress blues
and the duty day! A high school student volunteered to be the bugler and was outfitted in a ROTC Marine uniform! No more barely audible canned taps being played while the Marines preformed the full Military ceremony the veteran deserved!
As of December 2001, the Marine detail is approaching 40 members and has conducted over 500 Memorials Services! Much has been accomplished! An 11 1/2 minute award winning video was made and will be used for recuitment when Congressional Bill (HR 247) eventually goes into effect promoting units like Semper Fi #1 being established at the 121 National Cemeteries across our nation!
It's has been an honor and privilege to be with men and women who have served in our Corps from WWII to desert Storm and are willing to serve again.
