Marine Corps League Needs a Few Good Donations

The local Marine Corps League veteran organization is working on creating a new detachment clubhouse from the ground up.

The new 3,800-square-foot building will serve the members of Marine Corps League Detachment 567 and other veterans. It’s on the same land at 7241 Baillie Drive, off Rowan Road in New Port Richey, that has served as the detachment’s post since the late 1980s.

The foundation was poured last Wednesday, and the shell is expected to be erected within two or three weeks, members say. They were uncertain when it would be inhabitable.

The building will house the detachment’s bar, kitchen, meeting area, pool tables, dartboards, and other assets, members say. It will cost about $210,000, according to Commandant Dick Young. The post received a $15,000 grant from The Home Depot to assist with construction.

The post is short the money for completion and is still raising funds, Young said.

Marine Corps League Detachment 567 has a charter dating back to 1984. It closed on the house at 7241 Baillie Drive in 1986 to use as its clubhouse, and officially opened for businesses in 1987, according to past commandant Tom Neff.

“That building wasn’t designed for what we’ve been using it for,” Neff said.

The present building will ultimately be razed, members say.

Members spoke of electrical problems, rest rooms that weren’t ADA compliant and need for repairs.

The best thing about the new building is that "We don't have to worry it's not going to be there tomorrow," Young said.

The detachment serves about 220 Marines and hundreds from other branches of the military or just social members. Members spoke about the new clubhouse bringing in veterans from conflicts in the Middle East and younger folks.

The present clubhouse "is a nice and quaint little post and people are happy with it," said past commandant Roger Golden, "but it's just not bringing people in."

The detachment participates in Toys for Tots, provides honor guard ceremonies for funerals and does other things to help out veterans and the community. Now it's looking for the community to give back.

Donations can be mailed to 7241 Baillie Drive, New Port Richey, FL 34653. Call  727-848-1688 to contact the post.