About the W. Central IL Leathernecks   The West Central Illinois Leathernecks Detachment 1177 received its charter on July 27, 2004. Regular meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, Sept. to May, at V.F.W. Post 1379, 903 East Morton, Jacksonville, Illinois, and informal meetings are held at Pine Point Campers Club at Lake Jacksonville in June and July, following a cookout/potluck for members and their families . There is no August meeting due to National Convention. An Auxiliary Unit was chartered on April 1, 2006 and meets at the same time and place each month. In addition to monthly meetings, a Valentine's Dinner is held at the local Elks Lodge where detachment members are encouraged to wear their Marine Corps League red blazers. In support of local and area communities, the organization provides an Honor Guard for funerals of veterans, serves as a Color Guard for parades, and participates in Memorial Day and Veterans Day services. Annually, on Veterans Day, Detachment and Auxiliary members visit local nursing homes and assisted-living facilities where veterans receive American flags and are thanked for their service. Members also deliver Christmas gifts to Marines at the Illinois Veterans' Home in Quincy and host Bingo for residents of the facility. The organization holds four annual fundraisers: a raffle, a Dice Run for boaters on Lake Jacksonville with food sales and musical entertainment at the local beach, a Traffic Stop, and beer sales at the Illinois State Fair. The auxiliary unit recently sold cookbooks. Proceeds are used to support Bethesda Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, the Center for the Intrepid, a world-class state-of-the-art rehabilitation center at Brooke Army Medical Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, and the Illinois Veterans' Home in Quincy. In addition, the organization supports the Operation Little Angel program sponsored by the National Marine Corps League Auxiliary, sends care packages to deployed Marines and FMF Corpsmen, and provides emotional support and financial assistance to local Marine veterans and their families. In conjunction with the Jacksonville Area Marines, the detachment runs the local Toys for Tots program and hosts the annual party in December, which provides toys for approximately 600 less-fortunate children. For membership information, contact any detachment or auxiliary officer.