Happy Birthday Marines

[Bruce59]

A poem I wrote some years ago and how it came to be. Years ago my wife and I were at the Wall in D.C. and walked from there to Arlington Cemetery, we stopped by Kennedy's grave and then took a path alongside the grave which took us through a small path of woods and we came out of the cemetery way down from the Iwo Jima Memorial, which we then walked to. I've been back to the Iwo Memorial a few times since, but now there a fence and I don't think I could walk it anymore. A year later I wrote this poem, in many ways it is my thank you to the Marine Corps and to all Marines that served. Remembering that walk I took with my wife, and a over active imagination came The Legend of Arlington Ridge. Happy Birthday Marines.

Bruce


http://www.geocities.com/arlingtonri...e1.html?200711

http://wallofhonor.bravehost.com

[thedrifter]

Outstanding!

Happy Birthday to All You Marines!

Ellie

[davblay]

Ya know....to be 232 years old we aint doing to bad, are we?

Happy Birthday Marine Corps!

[jetdawgg]

[Scottyva]

Ya know....to be 232 years old we aint doing to bad, are we?

Happy Birthday Marine Corps!

There are several People that have found out the Hard Way about the Corps!

Semper Fi and Happy Birthday Marines

[jetdawgg]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GG3W_N14yc

[Rich71]

Happy 232nd Birthday!!! I wish I could be a Tuns Tavern on the 10th!

[RON 68]

Semper-Fi................to all who served before, and those who are now!

never in the course of human history, has there ever been a better group.

RON-68

[crate78]

Happy Birthday, Marines!!

It might be appropriate to recycle the following:

**************************

A Prayer given by a Chaplain recently at
a Marine Corps Birthday Ball:

"My friends, it was once said......'O Lord,
we have long known that prayer should include
confession'. Therefore on behalf of the Marines and their
guests gathered here tonight, I confess their sins:

"Lord, they're just not in step with today's society.
They are unreasonable in clinging to old-fashioned
ideas like patriotism, duty, honor and country.
They hold radical ideas believing that they are
their brother's keeper and responsible for the
Marine on their flank. They have been seen standing
when colors pass, singing the National Anthem
at ball games, and drinking toasts to fallen
comrades. Not only that, they have been
observed standing tall; taking charge and
wearing their hair unfashionably short. They
have taken Teddy R's and JFK's words too
seriously and are overly concerned with
what they can do for their service and
country instead of what it can do for them.
They take the Pledge of Allegiance to heart
and consider it an oath to be honored.

Forgive them, Lord, for being stubborn men and
women who hold these values as genuine. They
are aware of the price for honor and with total
command of their spirit, they have been willing
to pay that price. After all, what more
can you expect? They're Marines!

O Lord our God, bless these men and women of
ideals, continue to raise up in this nation
strong leaders and deliver us from "me first"
managers and "don't ask me" followers.

Be our honored guest this day, Oh Lord, and
join with us in laughter, good food, good drink,
and the telling of tall tales and legends that may
occasionally exceed the truth. We bow our heads
to those who were lost in places that had names
meaningless until the mud-Marines landed, and
in that mud reaffirmed the one legacy that binds
all Marines together -- the blood and tears shed
for service of country and each other. Watch over
and keep safe all those who wear this nation's
uniform with special attention to their families
and loved ones everywhere. With brandy and cigar
in hand, I salute you all, through this day
and all the following nights and days ahead, God
bless you, God Bless this great Nation, and
God bless the United States Marine Corps."

Semper Fi & Amen

******************

crate

[sparkie]

I thank you, Crate, and I thank you Dawgg, old Son. I am at a loss,,,,,,,,,,

[alexb8654]

Happy Birthday Marines!

[davblay]

Ooo-Rah, my brothers and sisters!

[jinelson]

Happy Birthday Marines!

OORAH!!!

Jim

[SkilletsUSMC]

Semper Fi Marines!

[thedrifter]

Happy Birthday Marines!
Source: sandgram.blogspot.com/

Hey Guys,

November tenth is the birthday of our beloved Corps. So far I have attended a ball, (minus the wife but able to take my Dad and Uncle-both Navy) and some other smaller celebrations that included hearing a speech by former CMC Hagee and a few beers hoisted up over a nice cigar with a few buddies named "Chuck the Asst. D.A.," "Fred the Fed," "Steve the Cop," "Perry the Diver" and "Simon the Retired." All have ties with the Corps and it was an awesome time as we told lies and sat in our overstuffed leather chairs smoking a ten-dollar cigar. They always say that if you have two Marines together, they will celebrate the birth of their Corps with as much gusto as former President Clinton when he found he had a new intern (or that his wife was taking a trip to NYC for the weekend). Either way, we have a good time.

It's a hard date to forget after so many balls and pageants over the years. Funny though, the true litmus test for a person claiming to be a Marine is to ask them what is the actual day of the Marine Corps Birthday. We were having lunch for the second time at a new local Italian place in Fort Worth, and had the same waitress, a young gal named Lynn who claimed that she, too, was a Marine. The first time I talked to her, I didn't press the issue since we were about to leave. The next time was last Sunday, after the ball. She proudly stated again that she was a Marine who got out after three years when she heard us talking about the Military. My Uncle, 6' 5" and a former RIO in the F-14, asks across the table, "Hey when is the Marine Corps Birthday?" she just shrugged her shoulders and said, "I don't remember that little stuff." Now I was pretty sure that this semi-cute young thing was lying through her teeth. Not sure if she thought it would bring a better tip, I asked her, "Where did you go to boot camp?" She beamed and said, "Pendleton, of course."

I didn't want to bust her in front of my in-laws and family (plus we didn't have our food yet) so I waited until I was driving home from one of the cake-cutting ceremonies in my Dress Blues and decided to stop by the restaurant. I flagged her down and asked her to come over. "Lynn, while I appreciate you wanting to be a Marine, if you are going to lie about it, first Google the Corps and find out the date of it's inception, because EVERY Marine knows that. Second, women only attend Boot Camp in Paris Island." You could see the shame in her eyes, and she started to explain something, but I just said goodbye and turned around to leave.

Now this Saturday, November tenth will be a different story. I am flying to San Antonio with a good buddy named Paulie, in our Government-issued KC 130T. Our mission is to pick up six young Marines who were wounded in Iraq, and fly them to a football game up here in North Texas. Ross Perot and his son are helping organize this through the Wounded Warrior group. They are going to watch the University of North Texas play the Naval Academy. I think it's an awesome thing, and it's one of those flights that I can't wait to make happen. I can bet you a million dollars, that these heroes know the meaning of the tenth of November!
To all of you Marines out there, I wish you a very Happy Birthday, for you are looking good for being 232 years…

Semper Fi,
Taco