The Women Marines Association Tackle the New York Jets!
by Jamie DePaola and StacyAnn Castro
Another Win for Women Marines! A team from the WMA Area 1 Marines scored big with the New York Jets!
The Women Marines Association had the honor of being selected to participate in the Taste of The Jets event in New York City on May 18th. The Taste of the Jets is a fundraising event that the NY Jets have held the last 13 years to raise funds to support the New York Jets Foundation to tackle hunger. The attendees enjoyed an evening of mingling with the players, Jets’ Legends, and Flight Crew cheerleaders while sampling delicious cuisine from fantastic NYC restaurants. This year they added a Veteran element and invited the 5 branches of the Military to compete in a celebrity-judged cook off. Each military branch had to put together a team of Veterans, who could cook and present any food item they wanted.
The prize? A Green Spatula Award, and more importantly, bragging rights!
When the NY Jets reached out to WMA’s member, StaceyAnn Gregoire, she knew that this event would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Stacey’s employer, Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk Inc., a Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) provider, signed on to be the team’s financial sponsor. StaceyAnn was able to muster 5 sister Marines to join her team and participate in the mission. Her team, consisting of 1st Lieutenant Carmella Shivers, Florence (Flo) Lohen, Meagyn Mulieri, Kayla Kelly and Lisa Fischer, all agreed they would make a simple crumb cake from a tested recipe that StaceyAnn has used for years, and top it with a fresh raspberry preserve sauce, a specialty created by WMA life member, Florence Lohen. The combination would create a force to be reckoned with!
With the support from Area Director, Jamie DePaola, and 1st Lieutenant Shivers from the 1st Marine Corps District office in Garden City, NY, the WMA team was decked out in scarlet and gold team shirts and all the extra Marine gear to display their pride and patriotism. The competition was fierce with the Army’s authentic Dominican dishes, the Air Force’s chili, and the Navy’s roasted pig.
The competition was hosted by Bart Scott and the celebrity judges were Willie Colon, Eric Smith, and Marty Lyons. StaceyAnn knew the Marines had it in the bag when Marty Lyons told his wife, “Honey, I’m eating this whole piece!” The entire WMA team was shocked when the Green Spatula was actually a beautiful Tiffany engraved trophy.
The WMA team has been invited to defend their title at Taste of the Jets 2018, where the NYPD and FDNY will join the competition. Stand by New York, the Marines will be geared up and armed with another tasty dish sprinkled with plenty of Esprit de Corps!
If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, please reach out to your local SSVF provider at: 1-877-4AID-VET
To learn more about WMA visit wmastg.wpengine.com or email WMA@womenmarines.org to get connected to the chapter closest to you.