Marine Corps Birthday

[Toby M]

Got a chuckle out of Cpl. (Lance Cpl. ?) Faske cutting the cake with the Commandant. Looks like a deer caught in the headlights...LOL That's the kind of look I get when in the company or near a Medal of Honor winner or four star general...

[thedrifter]

These old hands

Have gone the distance,
These old hands
Have felt the pain.
They have borne
The heat of jungles,
They have caught
The falling rain.


They have held
An issued rifle
Given to me by
The Corps.
They have pushed
And pulled
And hoisted,
And they seldom
E'er complained.


They have built
And have destroyed,
They have worked
For war and peace.
And when 'tis all
Said and done
And they are laid away,
They have served me
And the nation.
What more
Can I say?


* * *
About the author: Robert Cook served with Reg. Weapons Co.(2d-2d) from 1942~44, at Guadalcanal
and Tarawa, during a 33-month overseas tour.

Happy 229th Birthday Marines!

Ellie

[thedrifter]

2004 Marine Corps Birthday Message from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Happy 229th Birthday to the United States Marine Corps. Marines
have built a legacy of warfighting excellence that has endured
throughout our Nation's history — a history that continues to be
written every day around the globe. The word "Marine" continues to
inspire fear in our enemies, hope for those in need, and trust on
the part of our allies.

The Marine Corps' warrior spirit and leadership excellence are its hallmarks. Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to visit Marines who exemplify these honorable traits while bravely serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, the Western Pacific and other places far from home. What impressed me most is your courage, your professionalism, and your determination to prevail against those who threaten peace and freedom. The men and women of the Marine Corps clearly represent the best in American values.

On behalf of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I salute the efforts of the proud Marines serving today and those who served before. The world is safer today because generations of Marines have been and continue to be willing to serve and sacrifice for our country. Semper Fidelis.

Gen. Richard B. Myers, Gen. USAF


Ellie

[thedrifter]

229th Birthday: A glance at the Marine Corps yesterday and today

Published Tue, Nov 9, 2004

By MICHAEL KERR
Gazette staff writer
They train, they fight, they sacrifice -- And once a year, on the 10th day of November, they celebrate their storied history.
Marines from Beaufort and across the globe will take at least a moment Wednesday to honor the 229th birthday of their beloved Marine Corps and the brave men and women who served before them.

Since 1775, the Marine Corps, in one form or another, has battled from the shores of Tripoli to the cavernous terrain of Afghanistan, its Marines, both living and dead, bound together by something much larger than any one of them.

"It does mean something, because we're celebrating the birth of our Corps and all the traditions that go with it," Port Royal's Maxwell Butler said of the birthday celebrations.

Butler, 84, retired from the Marine Corps in 1970 after 30 years of service.

"It means a hell of a lot," he said. "That's why we go and celebrate."

On Nov. 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress resolved that "two Battalions of Marines be raised," establishing the Continental Marines to fight in the American Revolution.

Following the Treaty of Paris in April 1783, the Continental Navy and Marines were disbanded, but not for long. On July 11, 1798, the Marine Corps was formally re-established by President John Adams.

From 1798 to 1921, July 11 was commemorated as the Marine Corps' birthday, although historians have found no evidence of any celebrations.

On Nov. 1, 1921, Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune, the commandant of the Marine Corps, issued orders honoring the history of the Continental Marines and recognizing Nov. 10 as a holiday for the Corps.

"It started with Commandant Lejeune," said Stephen Wise, the curator of the Parris Island Museum. "It was sort of something that he introduced. At the birthday ball celebrations they read his original message."

The first birthday cake ceremony on record was held at Marine Corps Barracks, Washington, D.C., in 1937, with Maj. Gen. Commandant Thomas Holcomb presiding over an open house for Marine Corps officers.

From there, birthday celebrations began to spring up at bases throughout the Corps.

From the battlefields of World War II to Korea, Marines around the world and in every condition would do something to recognize Nov. 10 as much more than just another day on the calendar.

In 1951, a formal birthday pageant was held at Headquarters Marine Corps, complete with a cake-cutting ceremony and Marines dressed in period uniforms. A year later, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr., directed the celebration throughout the Corps, providing an outline for the ceremony.

At the birthday balls that continue today at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, the first piece of cake is presented to the oldest Marine present, and the second to the youngest Marine present, Wise said.

"Each base will do it differently, but you have the cake cutting and the celebration," he said.

http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local...-3936782c.html

Ellie

[cjwright90]

Happy Birthday, all! Semper FI!

[thedrifter]

1921: The first birthday
Published Tue, Nov 9, 2004

On Nov. 1, 1921, Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune, the commandant of the Marine Corps, issued the following orders recognizing Nov. 10 as a holiday for the Corps.
MARINE CORPS ORDERS

No. 47 (Series 1921)

HEADQUARTERS U.S. MARINE CORPS

Washington, November 1, 1921

The following will be read to the command on the 10th of November, 1921, and hereafter on the 10th of November of every year. Should the order not be received by the 10th of November, 1921, it will be read upon receipt.

(1) On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of Continental Congress. Since that date many thousand men have borne the name "Marine". In memory of them it is fitting that we who are Marines should commemorate the birthday of our corps by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrious history.

(2) The record of our corps is one which will bear comparison with that of the most famous military organizations in the world's history. During 90 of the 146 years of its existence the Marine Corps has been in action against the Nation's foes. From the Battle of Trenton to the Argonne, Marines have won foremost honors in war, and is the long eras of tranquility at home, generation after generation of Marines have grown gray in war in both hemispheres and in every corner of the seven seas, that our country and its citizens might enjoy peace and security.

(3) In every battle and skirmish since the birth of our 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.

(4) This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we who are Marines today have received from those who preceded us in the corps. With it we have also received from them the eternal spirit which has animated our corps from generation to generation and has been the distinguishing mark of the Marines in every age. So long as that spirit continues to flourish Marines will be found equal to every emergency in the future as they have been in the past, and the men of our Nation will regard us as worthy successors to the long line of illustrious men who have served as "Soldiers of the Sea" since the founding of the Corps.

JOHN A. LEJEUNE,

Major General Commandant

Source: Marine Corps Historical Center


Ellie

[Namvet67]

M I G H T Y P R O U D.....TO BE A MARINE...SEMPER FI

[thedrifter]

Marines' 229th birthday bash prompts tears as well as cheers
Ruth Holladay
Indianapolis Star
November 9, 2004

In the midst of the war and on the eve of a deadly battle for Fallujah, the Marines threw a party.

You knew it was a good shindig by the enthusiastic "OohRah's!" and warm, beery greetings -- "Happy Birthday, Marine!" and "Hey, Jarhead."

You could tell the 300 guests at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Indianapolis were having a ball. Young men stood ramrod straight and looked mature in dress blues, beaming at dates in glittery gowns. You almost forgot how young they were until a DJ broke into the Surfaris' hit, "Wipe Out." A dozen uniformed guys went down on their backs on the ballroom dance floor, wiggling arms and legs like cockroaches -- just a crazy, blow-off-steam Marine tradition.

You could measure the camaraderie not only by the presence of the 4th Division Reserves in Indianapolis and Terre Haute but also by the veterans, who outnumbered current Marines. Their waists may be thicker and hair thinner, but they wouldn't miss this party for the world.

Despite such joy, men and women wept. That's understandable, considering this small, elite military unit with 177,000 active-duty troops and 40,000 reserves has been fighting and dying for this nation since Nov. 10, 1775, when it formed at a tavern in Philadelphia.

Saturday's annual U.S. Marine Corps 229th Birthday Ball was only a history lesson away from all our wars -- and a phone call away from somewhere near Fallujah.

Around 7 p.m. Indy time, four Hoosier Marines near Fallujah were able to hook up on a speaker phone at the front of the ballroom with wives and girlfriends. Spouses typically talk every other day. This was the first time they've done so at the ball. By Monday, Saturday's conversations had become even more precious. Families learned that from now on communication from Iraq has been shut down.

Of the 10,000 American troops gearing up for Fallujah, about 8,000 are Marines, said Lt. Col. Charles A. Haislip, a 4th Division reservist who heads the local family support group. His son, Sgt. Shawn Haislip, is in Iraq. Daughter-in-law Kacy gratefully talked with her husband Saturday, then retreated to a table of eight young women, all wives and fiancees of deployed Marines.

Such instant communication with loved ones wasn't dreamed of when Noble L. Beck joined in 1942 after graduating from Tech High School in 1939. He fought on Guam and Iwo Jima, came home a lieutenant and served 32 consecutive years, retiring a colonel. His two grandsons and one granddaughter are Marines. "It's in the blood," he says.

Beck, who attended the ball with his wife, Novella, and other World War II veterans, was honored as the oldest Marine there, at age 83. The youngest, also cited, was Pfc. Ernest S. Hurt, 19.

Two men were guests of honor -- Russel L. Eaglin, commandant of the Marine Corps League, and John L. Baker, past commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ernie Pyle Post. The Vietnam vets raised $3,600 to buy slings for 4th Division Marines in communications units. The slings, supplied to infantry, are used to carry weapons.

Eaglin's speech was about applying the Marines' motto, Semper fidelis -- "always faithful" -- to today's world. He cried only once, when he addressed Jeff and Pam Hallal, of Indianapolis, who attended the ball. Their son Pfc. Deryk Hallal was killed in April in combat in Iraq.

Baker also wanted to say something publicly Saturday to the Hallals, but he was too choked up. By Monday, he could get it out. "I know you lost a son, but you gained a million brothers. As long as there is a Marine Corps, your son will never die."


Ellie

[jonze42]

I just want to wish all the Marines, former,present and gone but not forgotten , a happy 229th!!!!
Iam the Sgt of Arms for the Devil Dog Veteran Motorcycle Club in Mass. The club and I will be celebrating at the Caddy post of the Marine Corps league in North Quincy Mass.
Semper Fi
Sully

[ImAPuke]

Happy Birthday, Marines-Semper Fi!!!!!

[Doc Crow]

I still find it amazing that the Corps started in a BAR. Who would have Thunk it. May there be another 229 year after this. God Bless the Corps

[thedrifter]

November 12, 2004
Praises abound at Commandant's cake-cutting ceremony



by Staff Sgt. Cindy Fisher
Headquarters Marine Corps


ARLINGTON, Va. - One young Marine with Headquarters Marine Corps received an unexpected present for the Marine Corps' 229th birthday.

Lance Cpl. Christopher L. Still Jr., an administrative clerk with Headquarters Battalion, was the youngest Marine present at Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee's birthday cake-cutting ceremony Nov. 4 at the Pentagon.

A central component of the cake cutting ceremony is the passing of a piece of the cake from the oldest Marine present to the youngest Marine, symbolizing the continuation of the Corps' history and traditions to the next generation. "It was just the luck of the draw that I was the one picked," said Still, who was born Sept. 19, 1985.

Before the cake-cutting, Gen. Hagee praised Marines past and present for their contributions to the Corps.

"This is the time to thank the Marines who went before us," for creating a heroic legacy to pass on to present-day Marines, the commandant said. "And we need to thank those young Marines who are out and about today in Iraq, Afghanistan, Djibouti ... for what they are doing to uphold our traditions."

Marines in the Washington area and those at bases and stations around the Corps also need to be thanked for their continued support of forward-deployed Marines, the Commandant said. "You have done a superb and important job."

The general wasn't the only one to sing the Corps' praises.

Marines epitomize the courage needed to defend and protect our country, said Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England, the guest of honor at the ceremony. "Marines have done that for 229 years so that people like me can enjoy our freedom and liberty."

"It's a great day to be the Secretary of the Marine Corps," said the Honorable Mr. England who received the first piece of cake.

As the oldest Marine present, retired Col. Harvey M. Barnum, who was born July 21, 1940, had the next piece of cake. Barnum, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Reserve Affairs, joined the Corps in 1962 and earned the Medal of Honor as a first lieutenant in Vietnam in 1965.

The sergeant major of Headquarters Bn., Sgt. Maj. R.L. Watkins, then presented Still with a piece of cake.

This is definitely going to be his most memorable birthday celebration, said Still who enlisted Aug. 23, 2003. Still was also part of the cake cutting ceremony for the Headquarters Battalion enlisted ball Nov. 7.



Sgt. Christopher Tirado
Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee cuts the cake at the 229th Marine Corps Birthday Cake Cutting Ceremony at the Pentagon Nov. 4. The Scretary of the Navy Gordon R. England was the guest of honor.

http://www.dcmilitary.com/marines/he...s/32070-1.html

Ellie