MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Lt. Gen James F. Amos, commanding general II Marine Expeditionary Force, Maj. Gen. Robert C. Dickerson, commanding general Marine Corps Installations East, Col. Adele E. Hodges, Camp Lejeune base command, Lt. Col. Maxwell, commanding officer in charge of the Wounded Warriors Support Section, retired military and corporate representatives each shoveled the first holes for a new grill to show support for the Marines in the Wounded Warriors barracks in a morning ceremony June 16.
Donation of the grill by the BSH Home Appliances Corporation in conjunction with the Second Marine Division Association, headed by retired Col. Peter Grimes, executive director of the association, was to improve the Marines morale by bringing them together with group cookouts, said Dr. Clemens Schaller, executive vice president and director of technical engineering of BSH Home Appliances in New Bern, NC.
“These guys have given a lot and we thought it appropriate to give back,” added Schaller.
The donated grill is a $4,000 48’ Char-Glo gas barbecue product manufactured by the Thermador division of BSH Appliances, and is part of BSH Appliances Year of Performance, which is a program that provides activities to improve motivation of employees in the factory, said Chuck Dale, a BSH Home Appliances representative.
Marine Corps Community Services facilities maintenance department will cover the cost and initial construction of the grill requiring the running of gas lines and the construction of a brick enclosure, said Maxwell.
Construction of the grill is scheduled to be finished in three weeks followed by a ribbon cutting and barracks cookout, added Maxwell.
Wounded Warriors barracks is where injured Marines go after their release from a medical facility to continue treatment and perform duties until such a time that they can return to full duty or be discharged, said Sgt. Jonathan D. Brown, Wounded Warriors Barracks non-commissioned officer in charge.
Donations such as furniture, pictures and televisions help boost moral around the barracks, said Brown.
“Without donations this barracks would not stand”, added Brown.