TEAM DARKHORSE
On August 28, 2007, the Laguna Hills City Council voted unanimously to adopt 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division based at Camp Pendleton. As a result of this initiative, the Laguna Hills 3/5 Adoption Committee was formed, and was comprised of local volunteers.
The purpose of the adoption was to generate community support for the Battalion’s Marines, Sailors, and their families on an on-going basis, both when the Darkhorse Battalion is at Camp Pendleton and when all of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines are deployed.
The formulation of an effective support committee did not occur in the first few years following the adoption. In the summer of 2010, the news of the Battalion’s impending deployment to a volatile region of Afghanistan in the fall galvanized the City Council to reformulate a Committee under the leadership of Mike Bland. FULL STORY
FOUNDING FATHER
Mike Bland served as Chairman of Team Darkhorse from its founding in late 2010 until he stepped down in December 2013. Mike built an organization from a handful of people to a team of dedicated volunteers. Mike was honored as the Camp Pendleton civilian volunteer of the year in 2013.
“It has been the most amazing three years supporting our Darkhorse Marines and their families. They have been filled with many great blessings. I am so pleased the City renamed their Memorial Day event in 2012 to honor our Darkhorse Marines. Our support group has followed the Darkhorse motto of ‘Get Some’. This refers to giving the maximum effort to achieve the highest standards of achievement.”
MEMBER OF THE LAGUNA HILLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
To view the letter from the IRS verifying our status as a charitable organization : CLICK HERE
