Marines scrub up for event

The Marine Corps Birthday Ball is an event that makes the men and their mates feel special, but it’s not one that is always affordable.

“Our goal for raising money is to allow the lower ranks — sergeants and lower — to go to the Marine Corps Ball for free,” said 1st Sgt. John Kob of the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, Newport Beach’s adopted Marine battalion, who recently returned from Iraq. “The military doesn’t get paid that much respectively, they really don’t, and our goal is to just help the lower enlisted people to go free.”

Dan Marcheano, owner of the Arches restaurant in Newport Beach, is trying to offset those costs by having another car wash 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. The ball started in 1921 and celebrates the history of the corps, Kob said. It is expensive, sometimes costing upwards of $70 per person, not including other costs such as an overnight stay.

“It’s like going to the high school homecoming or prom; it’s just been around for a lot longer,” he said. “We celebrate the history with a guest speaker who’s got something to do with the corps …. It’s a huge thing.”

Checks are still trickling in from June’s car wash fundraiser, and Marcheano said about $20,000 has been raised.

“A lot of these kids don’t have the money to pay for it and stay overnight and all that,” he said. “What we’ve collected so far and what we hope to collect this Saturday hopefully will get all of them in for nothing.”

Along with a special memorial service, it’s also an event that celebrates Marines’ fallen friends and the remaining Marines’ journey home.

“Being back is huge and celebrating the Marine Corps is every bit as huge. It’s just a good thing for the Marines,” Kob said. “Our unit is going to go through a lot of changes in the next few weeks … but nobody will ever forget who was in charge and those who led us through … who got us over there and brought us back.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Car wash fundraiser to benefit the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines at The Arches restaurant in Newport Beach

WHERE: 3334 West Coast Hwy., Newport Beach

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

COST: donations

INFO: (949) 645-7077 or www.the% archesrestaurant.com