To friends and supporters of the Basilone documentary project:

JULY 3, 2010 – I’m off for the Fourth of July weekend to help our Richard L. Pittman Marine Corps League #1231 (named after a local Marine killed at the foot of Mt. Suribachi on Feb. 21, 1945) get ready for the Fourth of July Parade and remember the sacrifices so many of our military men and women made back then, still are making and always have made for our freedom. Where would we be without them?

But before the weekend, I wanted to give you another update on the great week we’ve had in getting the John Basilone documentary project up and running. The Marine Corps Public Affairs Office in Los Angeles recommended to Diane a young Marine veteran cameraman and member of the Combat Cameraman Association just establishing himself in the field in Los Angeles who is interested in helping with the documentary. Which is the answer to one of our major needs. He does have some connections in the industry and will work with us in the Los Angeles area and will possibly be able to go with us up the coast on the July 10-21 trip. With the necessary funding only for expenses, a competent cameraman is essential now and on our trip this fall as we go from the 28th Annual John Basilone Parade in his Raritan, New Jersey, hometown (and Diane's) and follow the Gunny's route to Hawaii, Guadalcanal and the Philippines. Diane went to Iwo Jima for the 65th Reunion of Honor in March.

Anheuser-Busch, Bill Gallo’s New York City Daily News column and your contributions are making things possible at this point. Our thinking was that corporate contributions would be our primary source of funding for the long haul. But a conference call with one of the leading fundraisers in the country caused us to rethink that. This man, working gratis on a consulting basis, advised us that 83 percent of all philanthropy comes from individuals passionate about the causes they support. He suggested forming a steering committee, which I already had well on the way, and use networking skills to identify potential donors and put Diane in front of them to ask for a gift. So I turn to you for your recommendations, as well as your contributions. We will be meeting with people around the country for funding on the upcoming trip and will meet with the fundraiser on a continuing basis until we have a completed documentary on a major outlet and the DVD available.

Appreciate the Fourth of July.

Make your contributions to The John Basilone Foundation, P.O. Box 6778, Hilton Head, SC 29938.