Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) kicked off its annual Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) active-duty fund drive for 2017, Feb. 24.

The drive is held every year in March with a goal of 100 percent contact for all Sailors and Marines.

Christina Murray, NMCRS director at the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story office, praised the Sailors assigned to NECC for their support of the annual fund drive.

"Thank you to the Sailors of NECC for your continued support of NMCRS not just this year, but last year as well," said Murray.

In 2016, NECC as a type command participated in NMCRS for the first time and raised nearly $40,000.

NECC's Command Master Chief Corey Heinrich discussed the support NMCRS provides for Sailors, Marines, and their families.

"This year's theme is 'By our own, for our own,' which is most fitting because as leaders we take pride in taking care of our Sailors and their families, and NMCRS assists us with that mission," said Heinrich.

Established Jan. 23, 1904, initial funding for that first year came from the proceeds of the 1903 Army-Navy football game held at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. During the first year, NMCRS donated $9,500 to widows and families of enlisted service members.

In 2016, the NMCRS provided financial assistance to 56,365 service members active and retired, widows, and eligible family members totaling $45.1 million.

NECC is an enduring warfighting force providing sea-to-shore and inland operating environment capabilities across the full range of military operations which is focused on delivering combat effective expeditionary forces ready for worldwide operations now and into the future.

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