Whats Your Nov 10 Ritual

[jinelson]

I was wondering if any of you have a specific plan of the day for November 10th as I do. Since I take the day off I usually start the day at 0 dark thirty with a cup of coffee with a shot of kahlua and a toast to Chesty, Lou Walt and the Commandant and the Corps. I then reflect on our fallen brothers and have a second cup only to toast them. Then its shower call and my uniform of the day consists of a white blouse with U. S. Marines embroidered on it, red tie with the eagle globe and anchor pattern, dockers with a E.G.A. belt buckle and spit shined black wing tips. At 1000 I go to the local recruiting office and wish all my younger bros a Happy Birthday and invite them to lunch at China Chillies with me. Then its back to my CP to spend the afternoon watching Full Metal Jacket, Heartbreak Ridge and the Boys in Company C, Lee Ermy is a carbon copy of my senior DI. At 1600 I order beer call and go through the memories of the Corps at some point offering a prayer to guide and protect my brothers currently under fire. Then I go through the old photo albums until taps. This year I would like to make contact with any of you thet live in the San Francisco Bay Area to celebrate contact me if anyones up to that.

Semper Fi
Jim

[LivinSoFree]

That's some motivating stuff there, SSgt... this being my first Birthday, I'm going to have to develop my own ritual... yours certainly gives me some ideas to start from.

[thedrifter]

Still debating to crash the party at Cookies has every year.
that is where the Marines go from the Philadelphia Area.
Roger used to go. Will miss saying Happy Birthday to him...
First thing Roger taught his kids...Hell it took them awhile to figure out that it wasn't his birth....LOL


Ellie

[airframesguru]

Play our beloved hymn at 0400 over the phone to all of my brothers (one that I have thier numbers for).

Have on for my dad, my country, my Corps and all of our brothers that have come and gone adn to those who are on their way in.

[airframesguru]

Any DC Marines in here?

S/F,

Mike

[LivinSoFree]

Any Marines around the RDU/Chapel Hill, NC area?

[jinelson]

LivinSoFree, since this is gonna be your first you should consider going down to Cherry Point and experience the real deal, or perhaps see what the local recruiters are doing to celebrate and hook up with them. You'll never forget it.

Semper Fi
Jim

The first slices of cake go to the youngest and oldest Marines in the unit.

[LivinSoFree]

Errrrrr.

November 6th is my unit's ball... that oughta be something else... my blues blouse should be coming in from MCCS online tomorrow... now it's just gonna be a challenge to find a tailor and a cleaners around here that won't jack my stuff up. I just might take your advice, SSgt, and hook up with my recruiter... that could prove to be very interesting...

[Lock-n-Load]

:marine: If you do crash Cookie's Tavern in South Philly...look over all the hanging Marine memrobilia...I sent Jimmy "Wags" a front page pic of the Boston Herald with broad headlines: "1st Marine Div FMF Invades Cookie's Tavern"..."Wags" invited the Boston Chapter to his Cookie's Tavern for one afternoon slopshute session...the 1st Marine Div Assoc was holed up at the Wyndam Hotel on Race Street [1999]...about a pltn of us showed up at Cookie's...we had one hellava beer/pizza party, t-shirts and ball caps were issued to us from "Wags"...he had a juke box with Semper Fidelis March- Marines Hymn -Anchors Away were on full blast/volume for 4 hours...you had to shout to be heard, etc.."Wags" played his glockenspiel [sp] to Boston Pops rendition of "Semper Fidelis march" like an expert field music..with a SRO gang on hand, we even managed to dance with a bevy of local Lassies [who said they just loved Marines]..."Wags" was the high/jinx of our weeks reunion in Philly...Jimmy was a SGT Machine/Gunner[WIA] in 3rd Marine Div FMF in Vietnam...I had the front page of the Boston Herald printed up with the whole saga that unfolded that day at Cookie's Tavern for him to hang up above his long bar...Sgt Jimmy "Wags" passed away in 2001, and it's great to know his Tavern is still a mecca for ALL Marines passing through South Philly....Ellie, let me know if you see my tribute to Marine Sgt Jimmy Wagner ["Wags"]...thank you. SSGT CHRIS SARNO-USMC FMF :marine:

[thedrifter]

Will do.....

Roger always enjoyed himself when he went down there...

I figured I should be able to get in since I have a tattoo with USMC Wife on the arm......;)


Ellie

[Lock-n-Load]

:marine: Just wear a red USMC ball cap or anything USMC and you'll be on one hellava liberty...Thanks again, Ellie Semper Fi:marine:

[Arlene Horton]

Last year's birthday was one I was determined to celebrate the best way possible. Since I'm "ancient", the only way I could really express my thanks to the Marines manning a local recruiting station by supplying them with coffee (and additions) as well as 2 dozen cupcakes. They were momentarily speechless but did reply to my "Semper Fi, fellow Marines" with a hearty "and a SEMPER FI to you ma'am. It was a soul satisfying day.

[Lock-n-Load]

:marine: On 10Nov04....USMC-FO and I will be amongst some 2,000 Marines from all over the map in downtown/Boston to usher in the 229th observance of our beloved US Marine Corps [Ball]...the Boston Police/Fire Pipes will escort Marine Generals forward and the highlight will be the cutting of the sweetcake by the oldest/youngest Marines present..alotta pomp and pageantry fills the Hynes Convention Center from 11am to 3pm.."Red skies in the morning and smooth seas" to all Marines who get out to celebrate the Corps birthday...to those who are no shows; YOU missed a great US Marine liberty...maybe next year!! Happy Birthday to all US Marines, we truly are: the admiration of this Nation!!....Semper Fidelis :marine:

[USMC-FO]

I have purchased an entire table at the 229th Birthday bash that Lock-n-load cites above. I have two and a half fire teams going with me including several VN vets, some younger Marines, two WW 2 vets including an 84 year old "Gunny" from the 5th Marine Div-- Iwo first wave --who in my mind is the star of our table. These guys all live in the same town I do. The last fellow is not a Marine but his son is currently on the line in Falugia. He is very pumped to be a guest to our brotherhood, and in my mind certainly deserves to be with us on the 10th.

Prior to the luncheon I will be with other town vets at the local middle school that my son attends so that the 'kiddies' get to meet and see what freedom really means--or at least that is what the school admin claims as the goal. My high point will be to have my 11 year old walk me up on the stage and do the intro's. This event is a hoot, particularly when you consider I am 60 and generally one of the "younger" guys on the stage.

The evening will be a showing of FMJ, a flagon or two of the grape, ended with a blasting pumped up power woofer'd presentation of our Hymn ! Then off to the rack fully satisified with my day !

Semper Fi !

[thedrifter]

I was giving by a Marine from Philly, the number of where the Marine Corps Balls are in Our Area.
If anybody is interested email me for the #.

I'm still debating to go to one since this young Marine said he would escort me to one.

Ellie

[Fred Pfeiffer]

Jim,

I live in the north end of the San Francisco bay. Rodeo to be precise.

Last year, I went to a local bar in Pinole that was having a Marine Corp "birthday celebration", but it was a let down. Just a lot guys sitting around getting drunk with a birthday cake on the side and someone brought their pet bull dog along. Since I quit drinking alcohol in 1974, I felt rather out of place. While I was on active duty 1966-1970, I drank way too much for my own good.

Last year, I did find out that the local Bay Area Marine Corp Reserve units were having a USMC birthday diner in Pleasanton, but the admission price was way up there and my wife balked at the cost, so we missed it. They may be doing it again this year.

If you know of anything else happening this year in the Bay Area please let me know. I would like to attend something at a reasonable cost

Semper Fi,
Fred

[radio relay]

The best place to honor our Corps, on it's birthday, is the Iwo Jima Memorial (now, the Marine Corps Memorial), in Washington D.C.

It' a fantastic ceremony, and Arlington Ridge, on a morning of the Fall in the year, overlooking the Patomac, with the Lincoln Memorial, and Washington Monument in the distance, is awesome.

I then follow up with a visit to Arlington National Cemetary, and the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier, to honor our nation's greatest military heros. Then complete the day with a trip to the Wall to remember my Brothers, and also visit the Korean War Memorial to remember my Dad!

I haven't done it in a couple years. Won't be able to do it this year either. Hopefully, I can make it next year.

[hector verduzco]

I'm a Hollywood Marine and proud to have served. Everytime the date Nov. 10 comes by, I do to break out the year book and pictures. I do wounder where everyone is. I think back of all the good times and bad while drinking my bud!. Maybe someone from 3rd bn. Lima Co. 1981 drill instructors SSGT. Hondo, SGT. Cruthures, and SGT. Pigo. Contact this MARINE!.

[Sgt. Smitty]

My Nov. 10 will be a solemn and sober day....it's the day i remember all the Marines, past and present, and hoist a beer to salute all my brothers/sisters that have fallen and cannot celebrate with us. I quit drinking 20 years ago but EVERY Nov. 10 i hoist a cold BUD in honor of the friends i lost in Nam, and all the others that gave their lives on distant shores. They may be gone, but they are not forgotten by this Marine, and never will be as long as i am alive. You can celebrate the Marine Corps birthday anyway you wish, but don't forget all our brothers/sisters that are no longer with us except in memories. Smitty

[Namvet67]

It's our birthday...a day that my phones rings a lot..since I am a Marine, the calls come in to wish me a happy birthday. I pass that on to my local brothers over a drink or two and a putt on the Harleys. Been to the wall on this date several times but can't make it this year. Semper Fi brothers

[Sgt. Smitty]

I've always wanted to go to the Wall, but not sure if i could handle it emotionally. I have enough trouble going to the memorial in Portland. That's why my day is a somber one, i think of all our brothers/sisters, from all the previous wars, that can't celebrate with us and honor their memories and sacrifices that they made.

[Namvet67]

Sgt. Smitty...you need to see the wall. I felt the same way before I went. It did me a lot of good to go and find out who made it back. It's sort of like closing a chapter..you know some closure. It is a lot emotional for sure.