Central Florida Chapter, 1st Marine Division Association

08/24/2026

Save the date!

The Central Florida Chapter of the 1st Marine Division Association is excited to once again bring the Marine Corps community together to kick off the Marine Corps Birthday the right way at our annual S.O.S. Breakfast.

Please join us on Tuesday, 10 November 2026 at Venue on Lake Lily - Maitland Civic Center as we continue the tradition of starting our birthday in camaraderie, fellowship, and celebration with fellow Marines, corpsmen, family, and friends of the Corps.

We are especially honored to announce that Colonel Benjamin M. Venning, USMC, Chief of Staff, Training and Education Command, will be our guest speaker for this year’s breakfast. We are thrilled to have him on hand and know his presence will make this year’s event even more meaningful.

Each year, this breakfast gives us the chance to celebrate our Corps, reconnect with one another, and carry forward the traditions that make our Marine Corps community so special. We are looking forward to a strong turnout and another outstanding morning together.

Save the date now — tickets will be going on sale soon!

- Marine Corps Birthday S.O.S. Breakfast
- Tuesday, 10 November 2026
- Venue on Lake Lily/Maitland Civic Center
- 641 S. Maitland Ave, Maitland, FL
- Doors open at 8:00 a.m. | Program 8:30–10:00 a.m.

Semper Fidelis!

08/07/2026

08/01/2026

The newest edition of The "Ooo Rah" is here!

This issue is packed with chapter news, Marine history, and upcoming events that keep our Central Florida Chapter connected.

Inside you'll find:

🇺🇸 A message from our President about strengthening Camaraderie, Community, and Legacy and a new meeting format that gives Marines more time to reconnect before our business meetings.

🍀 The story behind our special relationship with Fiddler's Green Irish Pub, which has been welcoming our chapter for more than two decades and truly feels like home.

🔥 Details on our Summer Backyard BBQ, National Reunion in San Diego, Marine Corps Birthday events, and other upcoming activities.

🎖️ A feature honoring Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Larry E. Smedley and the dedication of his memorial plaque at Mt. Soledad.

🦅 A tribute to our Marines now serving in the Corps Eternal, whose service and sacrifice will always be remembered.

We encourage everyone to take a few minutes to read the newsletter and stay connected with everything happening in our chapter.

Read the latest issue here: https://www.cfc1stmardiv.com/

Semper Fidelis! 🇺🇸

07/04/2026

🇺🇸 Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸

Today, we celebrate the birth of the United States of America and the enduring ideals of liberty, self-government, and opportunity that have inspired generations since July 4, 1776.

We recognize that the freedoms we enjoy today have been preserved through the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment of countless Americans who answered our nation’s call to serve.

As we gather with family and friends to celebrate, let us also take a moment to reflect on the responsibilities that come with freedom and the shared values that unite us as Americans.

From all of us at the Central Florida Chapter of the 1st Marine Division Association, we wish you and your families a safe, joyful, and memorable Independence Day.

Happy 4th of July, and God Bless America!

Semper Fidelis

07/01/2026

Poetry for Marines

06/16/2026

Semper Fidelis

Colonel John Walter Ripley will posthumously be awarded the Medal of Honor.

A life defined by service, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to mission is being formally recognized for actions taken during the Vietnam War.

As a senior advisor to the 3rd Vietnamese Marine Corps Infantry Battalion near D**g Ha, South Vietnam, then-Captain Ripley faced a rapidly advancing North Vietnamese offensive in April 1972. Recognizing that a key bridge over the Cua Viet River had to be destroyed to slow the attack, he repeatedly climbed beneath the bridge while under continuous enemy fire to emplace hundreds of pounds of explosives.

Hanging from the bridge's steel girders for hours, Ripley positioned and prepared the charges before successfully destroying the span. His actions helped blunt the enemy advance and provided critical time for South Vietnamese forces to regroup and defend the region.

Known to generations of Marines as “Ripley at the Bridge,” his actions became an enduring example of courage, initiative, and selfless service.

Through the National Medal of Honor Museum, his story will continue to be preserved and shared for generations to come.

06/16/2026

Semper Fidelis

Major James Capers Jr. will be awarded the Medal of Honor.

A life defined by leadership, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to others is being formally recognized for actions taken during a reconnaissance mission in Vietnam.

As a second lieutenant leading a nine-man Force Reconnaissance patrol near Phu Loc in April 1967, Capers and his team repeatedly encountered larger enemy forces while operating deep in contested territory. On the patrol’s final day, an ambush left him severely wounded by gunfire and fragmentation wounds.

Despite significant blood loss and extensive injuries, Capers continued directing supporting fires, coordinating his team’s movements, and overseeing the evacuation. Refusing to leave before his Marines, he remained in command until every member of the patrol was safely aboard the extraction helicopter.

Over a 22-year Marine Corps career, Capers broke barriers and opened doors for future generations of Marines, becoming the first Black Marine to join Force Reconnaissance, receive a battlefield commission in Marine special operations, and command a Reconnaissance company.

As his story joins those preserved at the National Medal of Honor Museum, his legacy will continue to connect future generations with the values the Medal of Honor represents.

06/08/2026

The Marine experience

Semper Fidelis

06/04/2026

A nice recap on the Harrier as it is retired from service in the U.S. Marine Corps