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Actor/Host R. Lee Ermey accepts $10,000 Toys for Tots donation at Naval Air Station North Island
Story Number: NNS081225-04
Release Date: 12/25/2008 12:13:00 AM
By Jim Markle, Fleet Readiness Center Southwest Public Affairs
NAVAL AIR STATION NORTH ISLAND, Calif. (NNS) -- The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program in Southern California got a big boost today, when R. Lee Ermey, retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant and motion picture star visited Naval Air Station North Island Dec. 22.
The History Channel host of 'Mail Call' accepted a contribution valued at more than $10,000 from the Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) Superintendent's Association.
Navy Capt. Mike Kelly, commanding officer FRCSW, presented Ermey a check for $9,500 and an assortment of toys during a brief ceremony at the NAS.
Ermey said the donated money would be used by the wives of Marines from the 4th Tank Battalion at Camp Pendleton to purchase toys "at cost" from Wal-Mart stores.
"I've seen this program grow for years, and it's a wonderful thing when we can get enough toys to give the young kids who have less; a couple of toys each instead of just one," Ermey said.
"We need to show attention to these kids who don't really have a lot. They feel as though nobody cares about them. We need to reach out to these young people and let them know that we do care about them, and are concerned about their well-being and happiness. They deserve to have a Christmas as much as anyone else does," Ermey said.
Ermey has been an official Toys for Tots spokesperson for the past 29 years.
For more news from Commander Navy Region Southwest, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnrsw.
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