thedrifter
11-09-08, 07:31 AM
Local veterans are 'semper fi' to the Marine Corps
By: Gavin Strube / Special to The Citizen
Saturday, November 8, 2008 7:24 PM EST
AUBURN - With more than 200 years of history, the Unites States Marine Corps has become the very image of American courage and sacrifice.
For the men and women of this special military branch, becoming a Marine instills not only pride in their country, but in the Marine Corps, itself.
The 233rd birthday of the Marine Corps will be marked Monday, Nov. 10, and celebrations are held nationwide every year to honor the bravery and sacrifices of these soldiers. In Auburn Saturday, a birthday party for the Marine Corps was held at the Auburn Elks Lodge. Veterans of the Marine Corps were on hand to swap stories, remember their time of service, and honor the Corps.
This local celebration was started in 2001 by five local Marines, Sonny Hoyt, Austin Ireland, Ernie Kimball, Mike Quill and Fritz Allen. Each year they gather not only to celebrate the rich history of the Marines, but to remember those who have passed.
Auburn Mayor Mike Quill, formerly a corporal in the Marines, said, "We all take a few minutes to remember our friends. There are a lot of bittersweet memories, but its something we all cherish."
"No matter where you go, you see a Marine hat or pin, you say 'Semper Fi,'" said Marine veteran Fred Mosschler, referring to the motto of the Marine Corps, Semper Fidelis, or Always Faithful. "We've all been through the same things, so you know who can have your back," he said.
The celebration at the Elks Lodge, which included raffles to help cover the costs of the party for next year, culminated in the cutting of a birthday cake for the Marine Corps. Quill, Allen and Ireland, the surviving members of the group who founded the Auburn celebration, cut the cake with two pieces of Marine Corps tradition, the Non Commissioned Officer's sword which is the only sword authorized to be worn by an enlisted member of the U.S. military, and Officer's Mameluke Sword, modeled after a sword famously given to a Marine lieutenant during the First Barbary War in 1804.
Beyond local endeavors such as donating the use of their lodge for this weekend's party, on a national level The Elks devote 5 percent of all funds gathered through the Elks National Foundation to veterans services, including $848,000 donated to their Veterans Service Program this year, and $458,812 devoted to restoring the Elks Veterans Memorial in Chicago.
As Bill Holmes, a local Marine veteran, played taps and the Marine Corps anthem, such generosity was well appreciated by the veterans who gathered to honor their Corps and their country.
Ellie
By: Gavin Strube / Special to The Citizen
Saturday, November 8, 2008 7:24 PM EST
AUBURN - With more than 200 years of history, the Unites States Marine Corps has become the very image of American courage and sacrifice.
For the men and women of this special military branch, becoming a Marine instills not only pride in their country, but in the Marine Corps, itself.
The 233rd birthday of the Marine Corps will be marked Monday, Nov. 10, and celebrations are held nationwide every year to honor the bravery and sacrifices of these soldiers. In Auburn Saturday, a birthday party for the Marine Corps was held at the Auburn Elks Lodge. Veterans of the Marine Corps were on hand to swap stories, remember their time of service, and honor the Corps.
This local celebration was started in 2001 by five local Marines, Sonny Hoyt, Austin Ireland, Ernie Kimball, Mike Quill and Fritz Allen. Each year they gather not only to celebrate the rich history of the Marines, but to remember those who have passed.
Auburn Mayor Mike Quill, formerly a corporal in the Marines, said, "We all take a few minutes to remember our friends. There are a lot of bittersweet memories, but its something we all cherish."
"No matter where you go, you see a Marine hat or pin, you say 'Semper Fi,'" said Marine veteran Fred Mosschler, referring to the motto of the Marine Corps, Semper Fidelis, or Always Faithful. "We've all been through the same things, so you know who can have your back," he said.
The celebration at the Elks Lodge, which included raffles to help cover the costs of the party for next year, culminated in the cutting of a birthday cake for the Marine Corps. Quill, Allen and Ireland, the surviving members of the group who founded the Auburn celebration, cut the cake with two pieces of Marine Corps tradition, the Non Commissioned Officer's sword which is the only sword authorized to be worn by an enlisted member of the U.S. military, and Officer's Mameluke Sword, modeled after a sword famously given to a Marine lieutenant during the First Barbary War in 1804.
Beyond local endeavors such as donating the use of their lodge for this weekend's party, on a national level The Elks devote 5 percent of all funds gathered through the Elks National Foundation to veterans services, including $848,000 donated to their Veterans Service Program this year, and $458,812 devoted to restoring the Elks Veterans Memorial in Chicago.
As Bill Holmes, a local Marine veteran, played taps and the Marine Corps anthem, such generosity was well appreciated by the veterans who gathered to honor their Corps and their country.
Ellie