Marines begin 233rd birthday celebrations

[thedrifter]

Marines begin 233rd birthday celebrations
Published Thu, Nov 6, 2008 12:00 AM
By PATRICK DONOHUE pdonohue@beaufortgazette.com 843-986-5531

Would-be Marines sat cross-legged on the parade deck at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, watching closely Thursday afternoon as the depot's Marines began celebrating the birthday of their beloved Corps 233 years ago on Monday.

"This is probably the most important day of your Corps career -- this is your first Marine birthday," said Brig. Gen. James B. Laster, Parris Island commanding general. "Wherever you go for the rest of your life, you'll remember this day."

Laster's remarks were part of a birthday pageant that brought together the base's Marines, recruits and some of the families of the more than 675 recruits set to graduate from basic training today.

The pageant featured 13 Marines and a sailor in period uniforms dating to the Corps' inception in 1775.

Those Marines, selected from the depot's various battalions, were chosen because of the uniforms' unique tailoring, said Master Sgt. Mark Oliva, depot spokesman. "Who's in the uniform is whoever fits in the uniform," Oliva said. "Those uniforms are limited commodities."

Laster said he was proud to be a part of a fighting force that has helped defend this United States for more than two centuries.

"For 233 years, the Marine Corps has distinguished itself and won our nation's battles," he said of the Corps, which was founded 233 years ago in a tavern in Philadelphia. "I don't know about you, but I'm dadgum proud to be a United States Marine today."

The pageant concluded with the cutting of a white, three-tiered birthday cake adorned with American flags and the Corps' red battle colors.

Laster cut the cake with a sword and, as Marine tradition dictates, gave one piece to the depot's oldest active-duty Marine, Sgt. Maj. Michael Swanberg, and one to the youngest, Pfc. Amanda Page.

Marines have celebrated the Corps' birthday with a cake cutting since 1952, when Commandant Lemuel C. Shepherd started the tradition in Philadelphia.

Thursday's ceremony was one event of many scheduled at Parris Island and Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort to celebrate the Corps' birthday.

The air station held a ball for the base's enlisted personnel Thursday night at MCAS Beaufort's Officer's Club.

Galas for the Air Station's officers are scheduled to follow tonight and Saturday night.

Parris Island will host galas for its respective battalions this weekend and next week.

Video

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Ellie

[thedrifter]

Marines at MCAS celebrate 233rd birthday
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November 6, 2008 - 11:26PM
BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER

Marines from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma gathered to celebrate the U.S. Marine Corps' 233 birthday on Wednesday during a formal ceremony at the base's parade field.

A large crowd of officers, enlisted personnel and air station civilians attended the ceremony, which recognized the long and rich history of the Marine Corps and the sacrifices of those who came before them and made the corps what it is today.

"We do this every year. We do this every where we meet, every where Marines are. We do it in Iraq. We do it in Afghanistan. We do it aboard ships and we do it at bases and stations," said MCAS Yuma Commanding Officer Col. Mark Werth. "This is something we hold sacred as Marines and truly enjoy."

The ceremony opened with the traditional reading of a birthday message from Gen. John A. Lejeune, who was 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps. Since 1921, Gen. Lejeune’s inspirational birthday message has been read each year during the Corps’ birthday celebration.

"The record of our Corps is one which will bear comparison with that of most famous military organizations in the world's history," said Staff Sgt. Ryan O'Hare as he read from the message during his narration of the ceremony. "In every battle and skirmish since the birth of the Corps, Marines have acquitted themselves with the greatest distinction, winning new honors on each occasion until the term Marine has come to signify all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue."

Since 1921, Gen. Lejeune’s inspirational birthday message has been read each year during the Corps’ birthday celebration.

A birthday message, which also paid tribute to the men and women who serve, from current Marine Corps Commandant Col. James Conway was also read aloud.

"Only a few Americans choose the dangerous, but necessary, work of fighting our nation's enemies. When our chapter in history is written, it will be a saga of selfless generations of Marines who were willing to stand up and fight for our nation; to defend those who could not defend themselves; to thrive on the hardships and sacrifice expected of an elite warrior class; to march to the sound of the guns; and to ably shoulder the legacy of those Marines who have gone before," O'Hare read. "First we remember those who have served and those 'Angels' who have fallen - our reputation was built on their sacrifices. Remember our families; they are the unsung heroes whose support and dedication allow us to answer our nation's call."

The Marine Corps' official birthday is Nov. 10, 1775, when the 2nd Continental Congress passed a resolution that "two battalions of Marines be raised."
After the messages, the Marines remembered the men and women who have served the Corps for the past two centuries in a uniform pageant.

As part of the pageant, Marines wore uniforms that have been worn through the Corps' history, dating back to the time of Continental Marines to the warriors of present day. Each era had its accomplishments recognized.

Also part of the ceremony was the traditional cake-cutting. The cake is cut using a sword, with the first piece of the cake going to the oldest Marine present and the second piece to the youngest Marine.

The sword was delivered to the parade deck by a corpsman who repelled from a search and rescue helicopter that flew in and hovered overhead.

The cutting of the cake symbolizes the passing of traditions from one generation to the next. Master Gunnery Sgt. Richard Williams was this year's oldest Marine at 51 and PFC. Brian Kramer was the youngest Marine, born Dec. 14, 1990.

As the day and the ceremony drew to a close, those in attendance stood one last time as the Navy and Marine Corps’ hymns filled the parade deck.

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James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.

Ellie