MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Members of the Mater Dei High School community filled the parking lot at Angel Stadium of Anaheim Friday night not only to support their varsity football team, but also the Marines of Camp Pendleton.
July 21, 2006, Mater Dei’s football team visited Camp Pendleton to improve the youth centers on base. The players did landscaping, painted a mural, added a tetherball court and put a sand volleyball court in at the team center. In all they worked 14 hours and planted more than 900 plants. After their hard work the team held a football clinic and the Mater Dei dance team held a dance clinic for about 300 children of Marines and sailors on base.
“The team has always been about building more than just football players,” said Beverly Barkley, who, along with her husband, is the chairperson of the executive committee for the Monarchs for Marines. “It’s about building men of character.”
To show his appreciation for everything the team had done that day, Brig. Gen. Richard P. Mills presented the Mater Dei football team with the 1st Marine Division Guadalcanal patch to wear on their team jersey.
On the eve of the 232nd Marine Corps Birthday, the school once again showed its support for the Corps. Mater Dei gave out 700 tickets for the football game to Marines, sailors and their families. Before the game the school hosted a barbeque in the stadium’s parking lot. Parents brought burgers, baked goods, and beverages to share with the students and Marines.
Volunteers from Outback Steakhouse were at the event giving away free burgers, water and chips to the fans. The 16 employees showed up with enough food to serve 2,000 people.
“We like to get involved with the community any way we can,” said Scott McCully, proprietor for Outback Steakhouse in Costa Mesa. “The real draw was the men and women of the service,” said McCully.
When the buses of Marines from the School of Infantry arrived everyone crowded around to see them marching out in formation. Once the Marines reached the crowds the Mater Dei fans lined up for handshakes from the students.
“It’s a great way for the community to see the Marines are able to interact with the community,” said Master Sgt. Richard R. Rutierrez, 34, Company Operations Chief of Headquarters and Support Company from Albuquerque, New Mexico. “It show’s them we’re people just like they are.”
Once the crowds moved inside a video message from the first lady played over the stadium’s big screen showing appreciation for the Marines and commending the Mater Dei community for their support of the service members.
Mater Dei took time during half time to recognize Marines that were injured overseas. They also brought out families of Marines currently in Iraq and played pre recorded hometown greetings from their Marines on the big screen.
“You don’t always get to see people’s reactions to Mater Dei’s charitable programs,” said Nicholas D. Hernandez, #44, wide receiver for the Monarchs. Hernandez said helping the Marines was a humbling experience and it taught him to be thankful for what he has. “Knowing I could help them out really hit home.”