El Toro : Residents Contribute to Rebuild Base Chapel

Some local residents have found a way to express their support for the Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro, where the April 27 crash of a vintage war plane killed two people and destroyed the white-windowed chapel that had graced the base for 39 years.

They are contributing to a fund to build a new house of worship.

Although station chaplain Gordon Read said he does not know the exact tally of the donations, the Nearly New Shop, which is operated by the Officers Wives’ Club, opened the fund on May 9 with a $300 check. Several individuals have contributed and some local churches and organizations have also expressed interest in the effort.

Read said he is “not conducting a fund-raiser” because most of the rebuilding will be paid for by insurance and congressional appropriations. “But if stained-glass windows are included, they could be given by a specific group or in memory of a particular soldier or sailor,” he added.

The chaplain’s office is forming a steering committee to decide on a design for the new chapel and to determine how to use donations that have not been designated for a specific purpose.