Monday, April 07, 2008

Rare Charity in Washington   [Michael Ledeen]

This weekend we went to the annual dinner/ball of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.  As always, it was well attended, probably more than a thousand people in the biggest ballroom in Washington.  The Marine Band ("the President's Own") was there, along with other dance bands.  It's an interesting audience, ranging from young midshipmen and marines (we had a female tuba player from the marine band at Quantico at our table, along with a male computer geek.  Both assured us that they were trained as infantrymen and regularly ran the obstacle course, used the rifle range, etc.) to older vets and other supporters/contributors.  Who wasn't there?  The intellectual/political/journalistic class. 

It's a great charity — they provide scholarships, emergency medical care, emergency loans, all kinds of good things — and there's a reason why it's considered one of the best in the country:  all contributions, one hundred percent, go directly to the recipients.  Nothing taken out for overhead or salaries. 

04/07 07:21 AMShare