Ulster Marine Corps League #253

06/21/2026

Thank You Mid-Hudson Rebals for the Support. You collected 2 Full Box’s of toys.

06/21/2026

05/25/2026

05/22/2026

04/24/2026

THEY ARE THERE.
WE ARE HERE.
STANDING WATCH IN DIFFERENT WAYS…
BUT UNITED IN ONE MISSION.

UNTIL THEY ALL COME HOME —
WE REMEMBER.
WE HONOR.
WE STAND RED.





Semper Fi 🇺🇸

03/31/2026

Happy National Crayon Day Marines! Sound off your favorite flavor! Special thanks to Gunny Claus for reminding us!

03/30/2026

Ulster County is proud to recognize Marine Corps Veteran Mike Binns as the March Veteran of the Month! Mike was born and raised in Kingston, and followed in the footsteps of his father and aunt by enlisting into the Marine Corps after high school. He became an 0311 Infantry Rifleman, considered the “tip of the spear”, and was stationed at Camp Pendleton CA for his four-year enlistment, during which he was deployed three times in four years.

His first deployment was on a Navy Ship in the Western Pacific, disembarking in places like Singapore, Guam, Australia, Hawaii, and Djibouti. On his second deployment, Mike was assigned to Kuwait but he was forward deployed multiple times to the middle and southern regions of Iraq. One year later, Mike was deployed yet again with the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment (known as the Thundering Third) to Fallujah. The Thundering Third played a significant role in Operation Phantom Fury/Operation al-Fajr (Second Battle of Fallujah) which has been described as some of the heaviest urban combat Marines and Soldiers have been involved in since Vietnam. Needless to say, this deployment took a toll on Mike; his unit had 31 Killed in Action with over 700 wounded. After three deployments in four years, it was time for Mike to come home to Kingston.

Upon returning home, Mike met his wife of almost 13 years, Kristen. Together they have two boys, Michael and Hayden. Mike spent a lot of time seeking purpose throughout the years and in 2019 found his way to the Ulster Detachment 253 Marine Corps League, a local organization dedicated to camaraderie, community, and supporting Marines. A year later, Mike took over as the Commandant of the league. In 2021, he took over the Toys for Tots program for Ulster County. Mike and Kristen work tirelessly throughout the year to ensure no child in our community goes without during the holiday season. Since taking over, their efforts have led to an astounding 9K+ children in Ulster County receiving presents! Should you or someone you know would like to learn more about Toys for Tots, send an email to [email protected]. You can also learn more on their page, Ulster County Toys for Tots.