In addition to Semper Fidelis, another phrase proudly spoken by Marines is “Once a Marine, always a Marine.”

The Marine Corps is a tight-knit group of brothers and sisters that stay together even after their service to Uncle Sam is completed.

The Marine Corps League perpetuates the traditions and spirit of all Marines and Navy Fleet Marine Force Corpsmen, who proudly wear or who have worn the eagle, globe and anchor of the Corps. The League promotes the ideals of American freedom and renders aid to all Marines, their widows and orphans.

The League also takes part in several community service projects.

Rio Rancho can be proud to know that there is a detachment league in the city.

The Lance Corporal Christopher Adlesperger Detachment 1316 was chartered on Sept. 21.

The detachment’s namesake was a 20-year-old Albuquerque man who was nominated for the Medal of Honor for his actions on Nov. 10, 2004, in Al Anbar Provence, Iraq. Adlesperger made the ultimate sacrifice.

While under heavy enemy fire, Adlesperger exposed himself twice to save the lives of two wounded Marines. Adlesperger was wounded himself, but pulled the other marines to safety while returning fire to the entrenched enemy positions.

Adlesperger was later killed in action on Dec. 9, 2004. He was awarded the Navy Cross on April 13, 2007. That is the nation’s second highest award for heroism.

Adlesperger is the third Marine from New Mexico to be killed in Iraq and the first from Albuquerque.

Senior Vice Commandant Ron Cummings is proud of Adlesperger.

The League did a funeral detail for the fallen Marine and Cummings said he became close with Adlesperger’s family.

Detachment 1316 is the only detachment in Rio Rancho and Sandoval County and the second in northern New Mexico. Cummings said the detachment currently has 50 members, but the League is looking for more members. He explained that membership is open to any former active duty marine or FMF Navy Corpsman. For those who did not serve in the Marines, but wish to support the League, associate memberships are also available. The dues are $32 for normal membership and $23 for associate memberships.

The League participates in several community programs, including Marines Helping Marines, Marine for Life Program, Young Marines of the Marine Corps League, Youth Physical Fitness Program, Boy Scouts of America and Toys for Tots.

Cummings said that with a city as large as Rio Rancho it was time to have a detachment here. “I basically found that a large part of this community is Marines,” Cummings said. We had so many West Side members and we wanted to save time and fuel by having one here in Rio Rancho.”

Typical of Marines, Cummings has not lost his competitive edge.

“I want our detachment to be one of the best and strongest detachments in New Mexico,” Cummings said.

Last month, the League garnered some support from Sandoval County commissioners Donnie Leonard and Jack Thomas. The commissioners gave $1,500 from their discretionary funds to the League.

Those funds were used to purchase a flag for the League Detachment.

Cummings explained that the flag is expensive because it was hand-made.

Cummings is grateful for Leonard and Thomas’s support. Cummings and Paul Caputo of the League presented Leonard and Thomas with a certificate of appreciation for the donation at a county commission meeting.

The League meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at VFW Post 5890, 76 Unser Blvd., Rio Rancho. For more information, call Commandant Floyd Stevens at 453-3318 or Cummings at 892-5618.