MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- The Marine Corps Aviation Association Marion Carl Squadron made special donations during the holiday season at their Christmas dinner at the Miramar Officers' Club Dec. 18.

The donated checks worth $500 were awarded to the Flying Leatherneck museum and Miramar Food Locker in front of the more than 170 members who attended the event, according to Lt. Col. John W. Guthrie, Marion Carl Squadron operations officer.

The occasion also included the collection of new, unwrapped toys for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program and a change of command between Col. Stuart L. Knoll, commanding officer, Marine Aircraft Group 16, and Col. Earl S. Wederbrook, commanding officer, Marine Aircraft Group 11. Wederbrook will be taking charge of the San Diego-based chapter as squadron commander.

The highlight of the event was the introduction of Maj. Gen. James N. Mattis, commanding general, 1st Marine Division, who led thousands of Marines on the ground during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The general thanked 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing for the support they provided during their march towards Baghdad and expressed his appreciation for the way the air-ground Marine team worked together during the war.

"I can't tell you enough how great the Marine Corps air team is today," Mattis said. "I have been doing this for 30 years and I have never seen it better."

During his presentation he discussed some of the toughest decisions he has ever made in his career as his Marines moved north through Iraq. Despite the many challenges the Marines faced, he never doubted the capabilities and support the Wing could provide during the war.

"I am here to thank all of you who handed to me, on a silver platter, a Marine division so well supported by this air wing that I was never concerned whether or not we would be able to get to the enemy and destroy them," he said. "My sole concern all the way through was how to keep the butcher's bill low on our side and for the innocent people of Iraq."

MCAA was chartered as a non-profit organization, after its founding organization, the First Marine Aviation Force Veterans Association passed into history. There are six squadrons in the organization in cities across the country. Each squadron is made up of active and retired Marine aviators, according to Guthrie.

The FMAFVA inaugurated the Alfred A. Cunningham Award, a prestigious annual award that evolved into the largest military aviation awards program in existence. The award, named in honor of the "Father of Marine Corps Aviation," was first presented to the Marine Aviator of the Year in 1962.

The Marion Carl Squadron is named after Maj. Gen. Marion Carl who died in June 1998. During his distinguished career, he flew 260 different types and models of aircraft which included single and multi-engine seaplanes, single and multi-engine propeller land planes, single and multi-engine turboprops, single and multi-engine jets, single and multi-engine helicopters, transports and rocket powered aircraft. He also flew over 30 different experimental aircraft. He retired in June 1973 with 14,000 flying hours.