Marines clean for birthday party funds

A group of Marines with Newport Beach’s adopted battalion plans to wash cars Saturday to raise funds to attend the Marine Corps’ birthday party, which is mandatory for all Marines.

Members of the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment will wash cars from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot behind Pacific Coast Imaging, 3300 W. Coast Hwy.

The city adopted the battalion in December 2003. During the past decade, the unit has been deployed to Afghanistan and has done multiple tours in Iraq.

Laura Dietz, a local resident who serves as military liaison for the Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club, is helping the Marines get the word out.

She said people who want to help the “1/1” Marines can also send tax-deductible donations to: NBSRF (Newport Beach Sunrise Foundation), P.O. Box 8113, Newport Beach, CA 92660.

— Imran Vittachi