Big impression

It’s not that the fund-raiser patch or the rocket patch sewn onto the uniforms of Cub Scout Pack 91, Den 5, aren’t big deals.

It’s just that the United States Marine Corps patch trumps every stitch on the 8- and 9-year-old boys’ uniforms. And it comes with a nice story.

Members of Pack 91 were presented the “honorary Marine” patch by Maj. Jon Dunne, a 31-year-old Chicago man who was stationed at the U.S. Naval and Marine Corps Reserve on Assembly Street for three years. He was transferred to Twentynine Palms, Calif., about a month ago where he awaits deployment to Iraq. The scouts plan on keeping in touch with their new hero.

While in Spokane, Dunne, single with no children, befriended Bill Nicholson of Nine Mile Falls, leader of Pack 91, Den 5. Nicholson’s son Brayden, along with Ben Dring, Will Goins, Nick Thomas, Alex Thomas and Brandt Raftis are in the pack.

The men got to talking, and before too long, Dunne and other Marines had arranged to give the young scouts a simulated demonstration of a howitzer. The boys also held weapons, sat in Humvees and were shown what happens when Marines receive a firing mission.

“When they let the kids hold the guns, they really stressed what the guns are for,” Nicholson said. “Maj. Dunne was trying to show the preparation and the kind of discipline that’s involved in the military.”

During the second visit, Dunne and the Marines talked to the boys about what the flag symbolizes and what each fold represents. The boys also practiced standing at attention.

The visits left a lasting impression on the boys.

“I think Maj. Dunne made me feel good because he protects our country,” said Brayden, 9.

The scouts plan to take turns writing Dunne one letter a week while he’s in Iraq.

“I think the Marines were more taken by them then they were by us,” Dunne said in a telephone conversation from the California air guard combat center.

“We really enjoyed having the scouts there.”