Happy Birthday Marines

[Butskie51]

OOHRAAH, OOHRAAH AND OOHRAAH 232 times!
Happy to all and their families,
forever.

[thedrifter]

Celebrating the Marines

by News Channel 8's Jammie Muro
Posted Nov. 9, 2007
Updated 11:03 PM

Southington (WTNH) _ For more than a decade, Marines across Connecticut have come together to celebrate the Corp and tonight that tradition continues at what some call the largest Marine Ball in the United States.

A high ranking Pentagon official calls the gathering the, "Biggest Marine Ball on the planet."

Just a decade ago, the ball started out as a small party in Meriden with about 20 people has now swelled to 800 people. The gala celebrates the Marine's birthday, 232-years old, as well as Veteran's Day and honors current Marines serving.

Marines as far away as California and Texas attend the event, swapping stories and creating bonds with complete strangers.

"There's no way we can explain what that bond is, how the feeling is, it's just an incredible feeling. So when you are sitting down across the table from any Marine, there's already a kinship and a bond there. All we need to do is find out his name," said 1st Sgt. Ron Perry.

The Marines Ball is being held at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington. The Paz family of Bethany just wishes Lance Cpl. Daniel Paz was there to enjoy the ball, but instead, he's in Iraq.

"We don't know how he's doing, but he loves it," said Carol Andrews, Daniel's Grandmother.

"He's tired, long days, doesn't tell us a lot, can't wait to talk to him," said Daniel's mother, Debby.

Thanks to both a satellite uplink and an Internet connection they got to talk to him tonight. Once Lance Cpl. Paz made his big screen debut, emotions flowed.

Lance Cpl. Paz would love to be celebrating in Southington with his fellow marines and would love to hug his family. Instead, he's got a job to do, but for a fleeting moment, a long distance reunion provided some solace until the marine comes home.

Ellie

[1jarhead06]

Happy Birthday Marines ! Semper Fi!

[Phantom Winger]

Sir, the Marine Corps is
232 years of walking, talking
hell, death and destruction

The most belligerant and aggressive fighting force
the world has ever known

gung ho! gung ho! gung ho!
kill! kill! kill!

OOH RAH!

~ Senior Drill Instructor SSGT Krause, Plt 2042

Happy birthday Devil Dogs young and old! Here's to 232 years of tradition unhampered by progress!!

The wonderful love of a beautiful maid,

The love of a staunch true man,
The love of a baby, unafraid,
Have existed since time began.

But the greatest of loves, The quintessence of loves.
even greater than that of a mother,
Is the tender, passionate, infinite love,
of one drunken Marine for another.
"Semper Fidelis"

General Louis H. Wilson
Commandant of the Marine Corps
Toast given at 203rd Marine Corps Birthday Ball
Camp Lejueune, N.C. 1978

[mike christy]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINES


SEMPER FI

[Big Jim]

happy Birthday Marines!!!!!!!!!! And Many More To Come.....many More!!!!!!!!!!!

[BOOGIEMAN44]

I AM SOOO GLAD TO BE A MARINE, WITH ALL THE RICH HISTORY, ALL THE GOOD TIMES, ALL THE BAD TIMES, I STILL WALK HEAD HIGH, ANYONE CAN SAY, I "WAS" IN THE ARMY... NOT EVERYONE CAN SAY, I AM A UNITED STATES MARINE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU THAT WENT BEFORE ME... THANK YOU TO ALL THAT WENT WITH ME, AND BEFORE I GO MISTY EYE... THANK YOU TO ALL THAT WENT AFTER ME... YOU ARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF MARINES THAT KEEPS THE HONOR AND PRIDE OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. SEMPER FI, MARK

[Dannycanterberr]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JARHEADS!!! LONG LIVE THE CORP!!! GOD BLESS THE MEN AND WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD IN HARMS WAY. MAY WE ALL STAND BEHIND OUR BROTHERS WHO ARE BEING PROSECUTED FOR DOIN THEIR JOBS, SEMPER FI!!!

[gutinstinct]

happy Birthday Devildogs !!!!!!

[chili77bowl]

Check this out... I am TAD to Camp Pendleton and will not be going to the ball this year, My family is still in Okinawa. My 4 year old son, without me teaching this, knows that the Marines raise the American flag, and that today is our Birthday. When he asked if he could go to the Birthday Party as he calls it, and was told no..HE CRIED! and then made my wife buy a Camo birthday cake and he then proceeded to sing Happy Birthday Marines!

He told every Marine he saw in Okinawa Happy Birthday.

I can tell you this, I have never been so proud in all my life of my Son, my Country, and my Corps! OOOOH RAH! Semper Fi! and HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALL!!!!

[outlaw3179]

Happy Birthday Marines!

[BOOGIEMAN44]

Check this out... I am TAD to Camp Pendleton and will not be going to the ball this year, My family is still in Okinawa. My 4 year old son, without me teaching this, knows that the Marines raise the American flag, and that today is our Birthday. When he asked if he could go to the Birthday Party as he calls it, and was told no..HE CRIED! and then made my wife buy a Camo birthday cake and he then proceeded to sing Happy Birthday Marines!

He told every Marine he saw in Okinawa Happy Birthday.

I can tell you this, I have never been so proud in all my life of my Son, my Country, and my Corps! OOOOH RAH! Semper Fi! and HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALL!!!!

THAT IS ONE SPECIAL YOUNG MAN THERE MARINE, A JOB WELL DONE !!! SEMPER FI.

[sparkie]

My son wished me a happy birthday. He's a 17 yr old wannabe. I am so proud our tradition lives on, and on. One day I may call my son my brother, as I do all of you. Our country is worth the battle, and the Marine Corps is worthy of our love. Always Faithful, Always Proud. See you in forever, Marines.

[Buckeye]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINES!!!! Oooo Rah!!!!

[grampsdw251]

Thanks for sharing, Marines. It seems that in 232 years there are quite a few proud parents and families in the world, 'cause the REAL PRIDE was mustered in The United States Marine Corps. Happy Birthday. Semper Fi!!!!!!!!