THE PRIDE OF MAIN STREET

this is Main Street Rockford Illinois it could be the main street of your time or mine once the terror of this river valley blackhawk he stands on a high bluff south of town a frowning figure in grass but you know the folks in our town Oh him something we can never repay for it was Black Hawk that made us band together in self-defense back in 1832 wheels of Industry powered by Rock River cradled a community a community welded together by an Indian on the warpath we were taught to pull together and make this valley what it is today we have a heritage here in rockford a tradition of living planning and working together it's a typical American community not unlike your own hometown there's a hundred thousand of us Swedes Italians pull you name them we have them but in this town we call them all neighbors our main street reflects that civic feeling you'll sense that of all the things we produce here the biggest and best is democracy it produced this city from a sawmill on this river and take it from me it goes right on producing things from famous Rockford socks to flowing molten metal to feed the ever-hungry machines farm equipment plows and plowshares stove parts and lovers complex machines to shining cans drills and draftsman everything isn't work here though blackhawk park with its inviting playgrounds and flowered walks yes there's a time to play the time to work and the time to pray we're proud what our town makes but prouder still of those institutions which make our tongue our churches they're strong because the people believed and are active you know it's the people not the steeple that makes a church or take that structure out on 15th Avenue that's the training center for Company C 4th battalion the Marine Corps Reserve once a week 248 officers and men gather here there are a lot of reasons why these men stand together all of them are proud to be a part of an outfit like the United States Marine quarter guess there's no doubt of that everyone likes to feel that he's playing on the first team one of the biggest reasons they have for joining the Marine Corps Reserve is the rich opportunity it offers for learning corporal Harry rose is one of the best mechanics in top once a week he puts on a new uniform and receives additional instruction and actual practice in his trade only one of many were being trained without interference to their normal schooling or civilian jobs private first class Lyle Walker is learning radio repair and getting paid for it Communications this man is increasing his skill satisfying his self-respect Bob Walker is a sergeant a Salesman in civilian life here he Wells a strong future by keeping something extra in reserve promising young executives keep their hands in Marine Corps affair mr. Milligan assistant manager of a telephone company by day captain Milligan Marine Corps reserved this evening yes that's one way the Marine Corps serves the community it helps supply the town with skilled technicians young man capable of holding down important jobs as company seed serves the community so it serves the nation weekly classes such as these important cogs of the Marine Corps they're learning the full value of teamwork the art of directing men swiftly safely to a given objective they know the answer is teamwork self-discipline these are essentials for our leaders of tomorrow this outfit is a vital part of the Marine Corps amphibious machine that's right trained thousands of miles from either ocean tonight it's infantryman in Rockford that taught to make beachheads right on the spot artillery man in Arizona engineers in Oregon tank crews in California amphibian tractor drivers in Alabama yes the marine reservists like to carry the mail for Uncle Sam matter of fact carrying the mail is sergeant Leland ruse specialty and just like all reservists he's proud to belong to an outfit that everyone admires and respect and he's proud of his Marine Corps Reserve emblem and where is it let's stay with him for a while that's as good a way as any to see our town first stop is Bernhardt's men's store and here are sergeant maleman finds corporal corbally outfitting himself in the latest thing in checks say speaking up checks do you know that the members of the organized reserve Marine Corps received from a hundred and fifty to three hundred and fifty dollars a year depending on their rank most organized reservists spend or invest their government a right here another way in which company c serves the community now here's a big letter from the Marine Corps Institute for corporal add Lowry adds a member of the inactive volunteer reserve he'd like to join the organized unit but the output is full right now meanwhile the Marine Corps is helping had to fulfill his ambition to head his accounting department those credits received through the Marine Corps Institute will help him get that job one of the most pleasant stops on our mailman's route is rockford college foremost among the oldest liberal arts colleges for women in the united states many graduates from this lovely old campus filled the ranks of the Marine Corps women's Reserve during World War 2 the regular women Marines of today and their reserve components offer varied opportunities to the graduates of tomorrow next stop on our mailman's route is the mayor's office there's always a lot of mail for his honor our mayor let's pause a moment and investigate seems to be a meeting in progress shall we go in oh yes this is the meeting of the town youth committee that's mayor bloom and beside him Reverend Benson and at the other side of the table the manager of the boys club and Captain Milligan commanding officer of the organized Marine Corps Reserve unit in town his Marines have volunteered their services to this youth project a program designed to provide our children with organized sports wholesome recreation businessman and civic leaders devoting their time to develop this program and the Marines are doing their share to make it a success the program is underway and the Marines are already on the job lending a helping hand whenever it is needed bears sergeant Abernathy refereeing a game for ten fellows who might otherwise be running the streets dodging cars and finding trouble Toys for Tots this was first started by a Marine Corps Reserve unit in California and reserve units all over have picked it up today it's become a nationally known program these marines devote their time collecting and repairing these toys barrels of toys for the less fortunate orphans of our top you'll discover the other side of the marine reserves most any Saturday afternoon down on a ball diamond our Marines are in the industrial league and a mighty tough team to be a part of a well-planned recreation program arranged to increase the physical fitness of Company C sports sharpen timing build muscles inspire teamwork and clean healthy sportsmanship firing at the nearby rifle range is sport also and these men are good weather serving the community or firing the rain the reserves make a good job of it and that goes for having fun together too it's the night before the outfit leaves for summer can their annual farewell dance everyone here feels that he belongs and that his friends are the finest fellows in time but there comes a time when it's every man for himself these marines are proud to belong to their outfit & Company C is equally as proud of them grocer baker or the lock maker regardless of their trades skills tonight they're all Marines last night it was the dance floor this morning it's all aboard for Camp Lejeune North Carolina summer camp the highlight of the reserve year it means two full weeks of fun and good fellowship 14 days of travel and training no wonder every man in the reserve looks forward to it with keen anticipation from a hundred different cities from villages and farms brains planes and ships all converging on Camp Lejeune North Carolina marines from rockford rono rochester from st. Louis Shreveport and Springfield all speeding towards the Carolina Beach it these are the living parts of a great defensive pattern assembling overnight into a cohesive dynamic whole summer camp means speed and coordination it means putting the basic principle learned in blackhawk park into practice it means keeping contact with the company from Toledo on the right and with the company from Rochester on the left summer camp means Rockford taking its place in the big picture of course the big moment the amphibious exercise after a year of classroom instruction in the techniques of landing operations they are eager to make this run from ship to shore oh that craft isn't full of mechanics clerks or farmers it's loaded with leathernecks men who know their business they're a long way from the Corn Belt but they're feeling right at home summer can't has a thousand memories to take back home dick Nelson I guess we'll remember the Chow as well as the rest of Company C man-sized meals were well man-sized men and after a day's exercised there's nothing like a cooling dip in the ocean or relaxing on the warm onslow beaches after a swim Leland takes time out to send having a wonderful time wish you were here to his 16 year old brother too young for this year's trip but a candidate for next year then off to a first-run movie feature at the can't theatre with buddies George Nagus and George Holloway time out before they prepare for the big day that tomorrow brings final review and inspection the last day at camp each proud proud with a quiet dignity that befits his uniform corporal winget stands shoulder to shoulder with the best our town has produced each knows that he belongs to a truly great object these are the pride of main street of Rockford or Rochester or San Francisco or salt lake city each man a living symbol of a great tradition of service yes it's not what our town makes it's those things that make our town like Company C of the United States Marine Corps Reserve the seeds of democracy planted here over a century ago have fared well and its people grateful for what they possess eager to defend and improve it will make a strong community from its rippling powerful waters to blackhawk ever watchful from his high advantage point of of the city we're proud of our industry our people our churches and our parts it's these things that make our town a place worth living