thedrifter
06-14-08, 05:54 AM
Ex-Marines make call for a few good men
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Hemet police officers to expand observance of USMC's creation.
By CHARLES HAND/The Valley Chronicle
Once a Marine always a Marine, says Chuck Johnson of the Hemet Police Department, and he wants to bring the active and former Marines living in the San Jacinto Valley together for a celebration of the Marine Corps' 233rd birthday on Nov. 10.
And Johnson knows where to find a lot of them. Among Hemet officers, 22 are former Marines. That's not unusual among police officers, Johnson said, but neither is membership in the corps of Marine veterans among Valley residents.
The former Marines of the Police Department held a less formal ceremony last year, but want to expand this year's observance to bring in more participants.
“We're building on the internal ceremony we had at the department,” Johnson said.
Johnson wants to start pulling the celebration together early so everyone interested can be present for the official cake cutting and reading of the 1921 order from then-Commandant Gen. John A. Lejeune establishing the observance.
Nov. 10 is the date on which the Continental Congress created the Marine Corps in 1775.
The Lejeune order summarizes the history, mission, and tradition of the Marine Corps.
After the reading, an official birthday cake is cut.
The first piece goes to the oldest Marine present and the second piece to the youngest Marine present.
Johnson is forming the 10 November Association so the Valley's Marines and former Marines can be informed of the celebration.
Anyone interested can sign up at the Hemet Police Department, at Latham Avenue and Buena Vista Street, or at the Simpson Center, which will be the site of the birthday celebration.
“No other service does this,” Johnson said.
Though the reading of Lejeune's order in 1921 officially launched the celebrations, they did not turn into a real party until 1923, when the Marine Barracks at Fort Mifflin, Pa., hosted a formal dance. That same year, the Marines at the Washington Navy Yard arranged a mock battle on the parade ground and those stationed at Guantanamo Bay played a Cuban baseball team - and came away with a 9-8 win.
The first formal ball was held in Philadelphia in 1925. Guests included the commandant, the secretary of war, and other military and elected officials.
Before moving to the Ben Franklin Hotel and the ball, Lejeune unveiled a plaque at the Tun Tavern to mark not only the birthday, but the birthplace of the Marine Corps.
In 1952 another commandant, Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr., formalized the cake-cutting ceremony, which, before then, had been an informal part of the observance.
Today the birthday is marked around the world with balls, dances, and dinners, in addition to the order reading and cake cutting, which is a service member-only function.
One of the more personal benefits of the celebration, said Johnson, is its ability to bring out Marines who may have served decades ago, but who have not been around fellow Marines since.
“It got these guys out who haven't been on base for 50 or 60 years,” he said.
Johnson can be reached through the Police Department at 765-2400.
Ellie
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Hemet police officers to expand observance of USMC's creation.
By CHARLES HAND/The Valley Chronicle
Once a Marine always a Marine, says Chuck Johnson of the Hemet Police Department, and he wants to bring the active and former Marines living in the San Jacinto Valley together for a celebration of the Marine Corps' 233rd birthday on Nov. 10.
And Johnson knows where to find a lot of them. Among Hemet officers, 22 are former Marines. That's not unusual among police officers, Johnson said, but neither is membership in the corps of Marine veterans among Valley residents.
The former Marines of the Police Department held a less formal ceremony last year, but want to expand this year's observance to bring in more participants.
“We're building on the internal ceremony we had at the department,” Johnson said.
Johnson wants to start pulling the celebration together early so everyone interested can be present for the official cake cutting and reading of the 1921 order from then-Commandant Gen. John A. Lejeune establishing the observance.
Nov. 10 is the date on which the Continental Congress created the Marine Corps in 1775.
The Lejeune order summarizes the history, mission, and tradition of the Marine Corps.
After the reading, an official birthday cake is cut.
The first piece goes to the oldest Marine present and the second piece to the youngest Marine present.
Johnson is forming the 10 November Association so the Valley's Marines and former Marines can be informed of the celebration.
Anyone interested can sign up at the Hemet Police Department, at Latham Avenue and Buena Vista Street, or at the Simpson Center, which will be the site of the birthday celebration.
“No other service does this,” Johnson said.
Though the reading of Lejeune's order in 1921 officially launched the celebrations, they did not turn into a real party until 1923, when the Marine Barracks at Fort Mifflin, Pa., hosted a formal dance. That same year, the Marines at the Washington Navy Yard arranged a mock battle on the parade ground and those stationed at Guantanamo Bay played a Cuban baseball team - and came away with a 9-8 win.
The first formal ball was held in Philadelphia in 1925. Guests included the commandant, the secretary of war, and other military and elected officials.
Before moving to the Ben Franklin Hotel and the ball, Lejeune unveiled a plaque at the Tun Tavern to mark not only the birthday, but the birthplace of the Marine Corps.
In 1952 another commandant, Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr., formalized the cake-cutting ceremony, which, before then, had been an informal part of the observance.
Today the birthday is marked around the world with balls, dances, and dinners, in addition to the order reading and cake cutting, which is a service member-only function.
One of the more personal benefits of the celebration, said Johnson, is its ability to bring out Marines who may have served decades ago, but who have not been around fellow Marines since.
“It got these guys out who haven't been on base for 50 or 60 years,” he said.
Johnson can be reached through the Police Department at 765-2400.
Ellie