Gunnery Sergeant Mario Monaco and Matheny adult patient Shaleena Tomassini.
For more than eight years, members of the L/CPL Robert J. Slattery Detachment 206, Marine Corps League, based in Whippany, NJ, have been making monthly visits to the wounded warriors and their families at the Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. They bring needed items such as polo shirts, crossword puzzle books and playing cards. They also bring welcome conversation and camaraderie.
Last month, students in Matheny’s adult services program coordinated a drive among Matheny employees to collect items for “virtual” baby showers for the wives of wounded warriors who are at Walter Reed. When the students made holiday cards to be sent to U.S. servicemen and women, they felt there was no better place to send them than to the Marines Care Foundation at the L/CPL Robert J. Slattery Detachment. Gunnery Sergeant Mario Monaco, who had been at Matheny previously to pick up the baby shower items, made a return visit to pick up the holiday cards. He brought personalized certificates of appreciation for each of the Matheny adults, and he spent time regaling them with stories about some of his adventures in the Marines.
