Two Hundred and Thirty Five Years Ago Today, the Congress of the United States of America Authorized RAISING HELL
…on our enemies and using Devil Dogs to do it. OO-RAH!!
JOURNAL OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
(Philadelphia) Friday, November 10, 1775…Resolved, That two battalions of Marines be raised consisting of one colonel, two lieutenant-colonels, two majors, and other officers, as usual in other regiments; that they consist of an equal number of privates with other battalions; that particular care be taken that no persons be appointed to office, or enlisted into said battaions but such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve with advantage by sea when required; that they be enlisted and commissioned to serve for and during the present War with Great Britain and the colonies, unless dismissed by order of Congress; that they be distinguished by names of First and Second Battalions of American Marines, and that they be considered as part of the number which the Continental Army before Boston is ordered to consist of.
Ordered, That a copy of the above be transmitted to the General.
HAPPY 235th Birthday to my BELOVED United States Marine Corps!!!!
Happy birthday to ALL my brothers and sisters in that magnificent and much cherished uniform: from my grandfather standing in his leggings on a cliff overlooking the Nicaraguan jungle during the Banana Wars, two uncles and my jaunty Marine Corps aviator father, the Grinch, to my much adored major dad…
…little brother Mountain Man, much loved cosmic twin, Kcruella, brand-new Marine nephew Scott (Ave’s son -we’ve SO PROUD, OO-RAH!!) and a wealth of friends for life, like Skyler, That1Guy, Robb Allen… lots of Leathernecks you all’ve never met. And, like CrabApple Rob’s Sgt. Sam, many Marines I’ve never met, but they so touch your heart all the same. Because they ARE all the same, the second you hear that, “Marine? Really? Me, too! When were/was you/he in?” And off the conversation goes, unintelligible to the casual listener, but absolutely riveting to the old Jarhead listening to the seastory at the time, once bonafides are established, because he’s chomping at the bit to see that yarn and raise it five. “The one that got away” taken to the nth degree.
It’s a Marine thing, utterly and completely.
And I would wish, utterly and completely, that whatever you do in your busy day today, if you might take a second out of it to send a prayer and quiet blessings to those Marines in harm’s way, and there are so many of them. Ask whatever spirit guides you in this world ~ be it God or just the incredible energy that swirls around this Mother Ship we abide on ~ that it focus on those young faces….ALL those faces and keep them safe from the horrors they encounter every day. (And especially watch over our close friends like Skyler, cranky as he is, who’s soon to head back into the fray in that Marine Corps uniform of his. He still has humor lessons to complete!)
So raise a glass, Devil Dogs, and those who love them.
To the CORPS!
Semper Fidelis
If you can, please.
If you have, THANK you.
THS, There should be a picture of you posted here too, you know!
Most of you don’t look a day over 230. ๐ Dad would be at the local reunion today. Don’t think he ever missed one.
(I think I’ve only got the one, Donna, outside of cruise books, believe it or not. Weird, huh?)
Oh, I’ll KNOW he would be, Rob. It’s a crazy, WONDERFUL tradition and we’re all giddy with the effort ~ already been all mad dash to Facebook and email, trying to beat each other to the “Happy Birthdays!” I got to kcruella’s Wall first, but SHE beat me to email with one of those MSN cards, dang it, and That1Guy beat me to Facebook completely! Skyler’s checked in from the desert and major dad’s been blasting stuff since I got the GoDaddy (the founder is also a Marine) Birthday email last night. Hilarious.
Now I’ve gotta go call the Grinch and leave a message for the Mountain Man (another little brother of ours).
Semper fi, all you magnificent Americans. Truly the finest example of citizen-warriors the world can offer. Thank you.
HOOAH to another 235 years of excellence!!!
Happy birthday!
Donna, it is very near impossible, and always has been, to get a picture of THS.
Unka Sammies Misguided Children
Killing America’s enemies and breaking things for 235 years.
OO-effin’-RAH!
Happy Birthday!
“Muscles Are Required, Intelligence Not Essential”
Semper Fi!
Donna, it is very near impossible, and always has been, to get a picture of THS.
Waitaminit……I distinctly recall seeing mirrors all through your house, Major Dad!
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No better friend, no worse enemy. Three cheers for the USMC. It’s my favorite service, for Dad was a Marine and got the all-expenses paid tour of the exotic South Pacific, courtesy of Uncle Sam; Guadalcanal (2nd Marines), Tarawa (8th Marines), Saipan, and Tinian (4th Marine Division).
This is a week of anniversaries. Today is the Marine Corps birthday. Tomorrow is Veterans’ Day. And yesterday, Nov. 9th, was a double anniversary. Nov. 9, 1938 was Kristalnacht, the giant Nazi pogrom against Germany’s Jews. Nov. 9, 1989 was the day the Berlin Wall fell. It reminds us of what the Marines, among others, saved us from.
Thanks, Marines.
and many more Happy Birthdays to you.
God bless every Marine, everywhere, and this very grateful civilian thanks you with deepest respect.
You know why we had them on our ships, right? (cause sheep would have been too obvious ๐
OohRah Marines, you don’t look a day over 230.