Marines say thanks to Poway Kiwanis Club
Marines from Camp Pendleton staged a friendly assault on the Jan. 10 Poway Kiwanis Club meeting.
Eighteen members of the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, the City of Poway’s “adopted” unit, joined more than 30 club members for breakfast and fellowship at The Hamburger Factory. The unit’s operations officer, MGySgt. Phil Bemis, assisted by Family Readiness Officer Michelle King, a civilian, spoke on behalf of those attending.
Bemis provided a history of the 1,000-member battalion, which was activated in 1985. The unit, known as “The Highlanders,” has seen duty in Operation Desert Shield/Storm (1990), in the Los Angeles riots (1992), in Somalia (1992) and served eight tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 1st LAR completed its latest tour in May 2012.
King expressed her appreciation to the Kiwanis Club for its participation in the “Good360” program. Twice each week club members receive two pickup loads of items from the Bed, Bath & Beyond store in Mission Valley and arrange for the items to be delivered to 1st LAR families. The donated items, mostly overstocks, returns and floor samples, range from pillows and blankets to small appliances and other household goods.
Toward the end of the meeting, Bemis was presented with 16 tickets to the club’s 16th annual Padres Spring Training Kickoff Luncheon, to be held on Feb. 7 at St. Michael’s Holy Family Center. Two club members donated the money for the tickets.
Representing the city at the breakfast were Councilmembers John Mullin, Steve Vaus and Jim Cunningham, who is also a club member. City Manager Penny Riley also attended.
For more information about the Poway Kiwanis Club, visit
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