Marine Corps Base Quantico -- There are around 3,500 military retirees living in the area between Richmond and Springfield, Va., estimates Kimberly Bennett, personal and professional development coordinator in the Retired Activities Office.

“That number is a start,” Bennett said. “These guys have given 20 or 30 years, and we need to thank and honor them.”

Bennett is organizing Military Retiree Fun Day 2015, to be held aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico on Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Marine Corps mandates that each installation provide retired service members with information about their retirement and health benefits. Retirees can attend the event at MCB Quantico to meet with representatives from various organizations who can give them the most up-to-date information about retirement, health, and dental benefits, legal services, and benefits available to surviving spouses.

The event is open to retirees from all the military service branches.

“The mission is the same,” Bennett said. “It’s just the uniform that changes.”

Bennett said the event will be both educational and fun, with corn hole and horseshoe games and food donated by Jeremiah’s Kansas City Style Barbeque. (Jeremiah retired from the Marine Corps as a Master Gunnery Sergeant in 2002.)

“Hopefully, our retirees can come reconnect with old friends and meet new friends,” Bennett said. “You might meet someone you were posted with 17 years ago. It’s a small world!

“It’s just nice to say thank you to our veterans who paved the way for those who are here now,” she added.

— Writer: auphausconner@quanticosentryonline.com