Free Press Day

Marine Corps League of Naples

E.T. Brisson Detachment #063, Naples, FL

"Honor the Free Press"

The Marine Corps League of Naples, FL annually honors a journalist as a way to emphasize the importance of a free press in America, something U.S. Marines have fought to preserve for more

than 200 years. The Honor the Free Press luncheon was the idea of Michael Trephan, a member and the Detachment’s former Public Information/Publicity Officer (PIO). Mike, with the full support of the Detachment Marines, organized and fashioned the Luncheon event into a unique Naples tradition, highlighting nationally prominent Speakers honoring the vital importance of a free and unfettered Press, as well as the Warriors who fought and often died to defend our Republic's freedoms. In 2007, the Naples Press Club agreed to partner with the MCL, as a symbol of unity. Jerry Van Hecke assumed the duty as Public Information/Publicity Officer (PIO) in 2012 striving to continue this tribute to journalism and the Corps.

Previous honorees of the E.T. Brisson Detachment of the Marine Corps League of Naples are:

2005--Ernie Pyle, Scripps reporter, the voice of GI Joe during World War II

2006--Eddie Adams, another Scripps journalist and Marine veteran whose photographs have been

published worldwide

2007 -- Lou Reda, a Seabee during World War II, who has produced documentaries for the

History Channel and PBS

2008 – James Brady, author, journalist, celebrity columnist for Parade magazine

and decorated Korean Marine

2009 – William C (Bill) Gallo, noted cartoonist, nationally known senior sports journalist and cartoonist for the New York Daily News; WWII Marine who fought in the Pacific campaigns

2010 – Jim Leherer, a newspaperman, a television news anchor and an author of 19 novels; perhaps best known as the executive editor and anchor of the evening news featured each weekday on Public Broadcasting Service channels, Marine Veteran

2011 -- Mark Russell, political satirist, social commentator, newspaper columnist, entertainer, author, PBS Veteran, Marine Veteran

2012 -- Francis J "Bing" West, Marine Veteran, Author

2013 -- Mark Potter, NBC News Correspondent, based in Miami, reports for NBC Nightly News, Today, MSNBC and NBCNews.com

2014 -- Peter A Thomas, Narrator & Voice-over Artist, US Army Big Red 1

2015 -- Bob Orr, Justice & Homeland Security correspondent for CBS News

Honor the Free Press

18 March 2015

Doors Open: 10:45AM; Lunch: 11AM

$35 per person--prepaid/non-refundable; NO "walk-ins"

"Table" Reservations available, contact Nick Marsit

2015 Guest of Honor is Bob Orr

Bob Orr is the Justice and Homeland Security correspondent for CBS News. He leads CBS News coverage of international and domestic terror plots and major law enforcement events. He was a primary contributor to special event broadcasts of major stories including the 2013 bombings of the Boston Marathon, the 2011 death of Osama bin Laden, the 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. He was also the principal CBS News correspondent covering the capture of Whitey Bugler, the shootings at Fort Hood, the plot to bomb the New York subway, and the attempted bombing of Times Square. He has reported extensively on al Qaeda and its affiliates and on the terror group's 2009 attempt to strike the United States with an "Underwear Bomb" aboard a Northwest Airlines jet bound for Detroit.