VFWERS PROMOTE LANCASTER.

Byline: Bettie Rencoret Senior columnist

Bob Marr loved being Department of California commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

His tenure in 1996-1997 afforded him the opportunity to meet a wide range of ``wonderful people'' nationwide, he said, and get Lancaster out there as a place name familiar everywhere.

``It was hard work,'' he said, ``but I was used to working hard right here in Post 7283. Then I moved up to District 10 commander where the work was a little more complex, and after that, it was only a hoot and a holler to the state post.''

Leading the 113,000-member state organization was an awesome responsibility, he said, but a truly rewarding one.

He was asked if he will now run for national commander.

``Not any time soon,'' he answered. ``I don't rule it out for sometime in the future, but I'm tired right now. I'll think about it at the time if, or when, it comes up later on.''

Now that her husband is winding down from his grueling term as the state's VFW head honcho, Ruth Marr, is making her bid for election to state office in the auxiliary.

She served as District 10 president from 1981 to 1982 after she went through the chairs of the local auxiliary.

The VFW celebrates its 99th birthday Sept. 29.

One of the primary focuses during many of those 99 years has been to instill patriotism in the public at large, especially young people, Bob Marr said.

``We believe strongly that this is the key to national survival in the future,'' he said.

To that end, Ruth Marr is now serving her second term as chairman of the high school Voice of Democracy oratory contest, which is open to students in grades 10 through 12.

The topic this year is ``My Service to America.'' It's open to any young person in those grades. They can call Ruth at [phone] for information on how to enter.

The organization also has an essay contest for students in 7th through 9th grades. The theme for that one is ``What Freedom Means to Me.''

As very important persons in the VFW hierarchy, both Marrs have done their share to make Antelope Valley and, more specifically Lancaster, a part of the VFW geographical vocabulary.

Bob Marr's executive position required them to do a lot of traveling. They made official visits to all 25 of the state's districts and attended the national convention.

``By the time I left office, people weren't asking us, Where's Lancaster? anymore,'' said Bob. ``They all know now where we are on the map.''

Bob and Ruth Marr are used to working together. That's how they met in their teens back in Lebanon, Ohio. They graduated in 1958 from different high schools in different towns, but both wound up working for Frisch's Big Boy (a Bob's Big Boy franchise) in Lebanon.

Bob went into the Air Force at age 18 in September 1958 and was sent to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas for basic training. After basic, he was sent to the munitions technical school at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver.

From there he took a leave and went home to marry Ruth on April 30, 1959, in Maineville, Ohio, before he was sent to Southeast Asia. Four tours in the Pacific - to Taiwan, Guam, Okinawa and Thailand - ensued, and Ruth Marr was able to be with him for part of his overseas duty.

He spent 15 months in Taiwan without Ruth. That was followed by three years at Biggs Air Force Base in El Paso, Texas, and Ruth was there. Then they went to Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport, La., for one year.

In October 1964 he shipped out for Guam. Ruth followed him in January 1965, and they stayed until December 1966.

Their first child, Dawn, was born at the Nimitz Naval Hospital in Agana, Guam. Son Robert Jr. was born in the Camp Queue Army Hospital in Okinawa in February 1971.

When they left Okinawa, it was to come to an assignment as an instructor back at Lowry Air Force Base for a couple of months. Then there was a transfer to Minot, N.D., for four months before shipping out for Thailand.

Ruth, with two young ones and a third on the way, went home to Dayton, Ohio. Scott, their youngest, was born in the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base hospital there.

When Bob returned from Thailand in 1972, he was assigned to March Air Force Base in Riverside for four years before coming to Edwards Air Force Base to work on the munitions test fitting program for the B-1 bomber.

After 20 years of active duty, he retired in 1978.

He became a member of the Alesandro VFW Post in Moreno Valley in 1972, then transferred membership to Post 7283, which now has 530 members, in 1977.

For the 20 years since his retirement, Marr has been actively involved in some aspect of veterans service.

He is Los Angeles County service officer to veterans of all services. He acts as the veterans benefits counselor, explaining entitlements and assisting with required paperwork.

He is also a Realtor with two associate in arts degrees, one in real estate and the other in work center management.

``Our days are full,'' he said, ``and that's the way we like it.''

LANCASTER - Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster, Palmdale and Pearblossom have been announced. All meals include bread, margarine and coffee, tea or milk for a suggested congregate donation of $2.

Monday: Chili egg puff, chili beans, Italian vegetables, tossed salad, orange/grapefruit sections.

Tuesday: Polish sausage w/cabbage, parsleyed potatoes, corn, marinated salad, pumpkin cake.

Wednesday: Braised beef w/noodles, spinach, tossed salad, banana, apple juice.

Thursday: Barbecue chicken, noodles Romanoff, Normandy vegetables, garden salad, ice cream.

Friday: Spanish rice casserole, refried beans, peas, lettuce and tomato salad, lemon gelatin w/pears, juice.

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Photo

PHOTO Bob and Ruth Marr dedicate their time to community service through VFW activities.

Bettie Rencoret/Special to the Daily News