MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Employees and volunteers with the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, celebrated the society's 108th birthday at the NMCRS office, Monday.
Founded in 1904, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is a private, non-profit charitable organization sponsored by the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps bases throughout the world.
Over the years, the NMCRS duty has changed from helping widows and orphans to assisting all personnel of the naval services, but its sol mission of providing financial, educational, and other numerous ways of assistance has remained the same.
The NMCRS office aboard MCB Camp Lejeune has been serving the base community for almost 70 years by providing assistance to members of the naval services, eligible family members and survivors when in need.
Joined by base officials and client to help celebrate more than a century of history and traditions, NMCRS staff and volunteers also commemorated a very special employee.
Kim Swensen has dedicated more than 15 years of employment to NMCRS and was honored for her faithful service and significant contributions to the society.
The event not only celebrated the hard work of committed employees, but also the devoted volunteers that have made it possible for NMCRS to serve more than four million Marines, sailors and families. With more than 3,600 volunteers, 80 percent of the society's efficiency is due to volunteer work.
"It's just tremendous work. It's life-changing what you do," said Col. Daniel J. Lecce, MCB Camp Lejeune commanding officer. "You're there (24 hours a day, seven days a week) and it truly makes a big difference. I think we're coming up on difficult times in the Navy and Marine corps and my feeling is, statistically, that you are going to be called on more in the future than you have before. I recognize what you do and cannot thank you enough for everything that you do."
The society recently awarded many of the volunteers for their selfless service to the military community.
"We really appreciate the support of what you do," said Gini Schopfel, director of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society branch aboard MCB Camp Lejeune. "Thank you for what you do every day to change a life of someone in the military community. They serve and they truly couldn't do it without you."
For information on volunteering with NMCRS, call 451-5346.