November 10th, 2005 – 230 years ago today in a small tavern in Philly a Corps of Marines were formed. All over the world men and women will stop and wish each other Happy Birthday, have a piece of cake and sing the Marine’s Hymn.
“There really is a tie between Marines, our history and our Corps that is, in some sense, mystical. It starts in boot camp and Officer Candidates School with Drill Instructors regaling recruits and officer candidates with the stories that make up our history and with a few chosen stories of their own detailing their small part of the whole. They talk about the first "Continental Marines," the Barbary pirates, Archibald Henderson (who was Commandant for 30-plus years), landings across the globe, the Boxer Rebellion, Dan Daley, the Philippine Insurrection, Smedley Butler, Belleau Wood, "Chesty" Puller, Nicaragua, "Manila" John Basilone, Wake Island, the Montford Point Marines, Iwo Jima, the Chosin Reservoir, Lebanon, Viet Nam and – from their own experience – Kuwait, Somalia, the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Almost magically, the most junior recruits and candidates begin to believe they can be like those heroes and have the opportunity to add to our history. More than that, these newest Marines begin to understand the burden of living up to expectations – the expectation that they will never quit, never give-up on themselves or another Marine, that they'll never leave a fellow Marine behind, and never disgrace the Corps. It may be hokey, but there can be no doubt it works.” - © 2005 Col. Jeff Bearor/USMC
No Colonel. It’s not hokey. It’s a Marine thing. And only the few and proud understand the need.
So Marines, active duty and former… Happy Birthday.
Semper Fi!
