Aurora Council of the Navy League Monthly Meeting

The Aurora Council of the Navy League will hold its monthly dinner meeting on Tuesday, November 20, starting at 5:15 PM in the private room on the east end of Grandma's Table Restaurant, 1700 Douglas Road, Montgomery, IL (just 1 block north of US-30). The general public is welcome, and reservations are not required. 

The meeting finishes about 8:00 PM.  The dinner cost is $17 for soup, salad,  choice of three entrees, potato, vegetable, dessert, and drink.  Alcoholic drinks are available from a cash bar.

This month's after dinner speaker is Major Mark Emerson, head of the military ROTC unit at Marmion Academy.  He will describe the program the cadets undergo, and discuss some of the significant accomplishments of Marmion's program, e.g., sending 4 graduates last year to the U.S. Naval Academy on full scholarships. A Q&A period will follow his presentation.

Major  Emerson grew up on the south side of Chicago graduating from St. Rita High School in 1973.  He attended the University of Illinois-Chicago graduating with bachelor degrees in Political Science and History in 1979 and through ROTC was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry.

He is a graduate of the Army's  Infantry Officers Basic Course, the Special Forces Qualification Course, the Armored Officers Advanced Course, the Command and General Staff College, Airborne and Ranger school.

Major Emerson has served in numerous command and staff positions throughout his career.  His first unit of assignment was with the 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Riley where he served as a Mech Infantry Platoon Leader, Mortar Platoon Leader, Company XO and Battalion Logistics Officer.  He was an A-Team leader in the 5thSpecial Forces Group followed by an assignment with the 6th Infantry Division in Alaska where he commanded two Infantry Companies.  He was next sent to Selfridge Air National Guard Base outside of Detroit where he served as the executive Officer of an Army Readiness Group followed by his last assignment as the Executive Officer of the Chicago Recruiting Battalion.

After his retirement from the Army in 1999 he worked as a JROTC instructor in the Chicago Public Schools until June of 2000 when he became the Senior Army Instructor at Marmion Academy in Aurora. 

Major Emerson is married to the former Joan Carroll and the have two children: Amanda, age 27 and Mike, age 24.  (1LT Amanda Emerson just returned from Afghanistan where she has spent the last year as an Engineer Platoon Leader for the Illinois Army National Guard).

The Aurora Council of the Navy League has a membership drive underway and will pay half of your first year's dues to the Navy League.  Ask for details at the meeting at check in.