Marine Corps Birthday

[DandyDon]

Marines have been on naval ships since the Phoenicians, and on 10 November 1775, the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia passed a resolution for the Continental Marine Corps of the experiment that would become The United States of America.

Our first Corps was recruited from sharpshooting hunters at Tunn's Tavern, with the bar owner becoming our first commander - and we shall always be riflemen first, handle our booze well, and whatever else is needed. The U.S. President's first bodyguards were a company of Marines, and while he is today the Commander-in-Chief of all forces, he will always have his own company of Jarheads.

We earned our red trim on our uniforms in mortal combat, the title "Devil Dogs" from the Huns in WWI, the name "Leather Necks" in the Boxer Rebellion, and I'm sure many of our other enemies have had other names for us that they would have like to have lived to tell. Every war has had its share of our stories.

Today is our birthday, and millions of people today are not required to speak German or Japanese unless they want to learn one as a second language.

You've probably heard our motto but never knew that Semper Fidelis means "always faithful."

Semper Fi

 

[mdb]

Happy 230th birthday Marine.

Semper Fidelis

 

[TCDiver1]

Oorah!

 

[devolution365]

This daughter of a Marine knew all that AND all 3 verses to the Marine Corps Hymn!

Happy birthday, guys. You're all nuts, but I love ya'.

 

[The Kraken]

Hey, Don !

Guess this isn't the time or place to say, "Happy birthday, Bellhop!", is it???

All in fun.

I know Marines. Love and respect them, probably in a greater capacity than you will ever, ever know. :salute:

the K

 

[adurso]

To my fellow Marines: Happy Birthday! Semper Fi ....

 

[Bo Danker]

Happy Birthday Marines!

 

[J75]

For anyone who has never attended one of these birthday celebrations I highly recommend it if you ever have the opportunity. It is a very touching ceremony and really makes you appreciate what these brave men and women have done for our country, and the obstacles they have had to face, even from their own government (President Truman thought the Marine Corps was unecessary and wanted it dibanded).

Happy 230th!!

 

[DandyDon]

You know, we do have a Jarhead smilie...

Marine Hymn

From the Halls of Montezuma
To the Shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
of United States Marine.

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in ev'ry clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job--
The United States Marines.

Here's health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve
In many a strife we've fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.
​

The U.S. Marine Corps is the United States' military band of brothers dedicated to warfighting. The proud Brotherhood of Marines is guided by principles, values, virtues, love of country, and its Warrior Culture. This brotherhood of American Patriots has no song. Instead, Marine Warriors have a hymn. When The Marines' Hymn is played, United States Marines stand at attention. They silently show their pride in their fellow Marines, their Corps, their Country, their heritage, and their hymn.
The Marines' Hymn is a tribute to Warriors. Marine Warriors stormed fortress Derna, raised the American flag, and gave us "the shores of Tripoli." Marines fought their way into the castle at Chapultepec and gave us the "halls of Montezuma." Marines exist for the purpose of warfighting. Fighting is their role in life. They "fight for right and freedom" and "to keep our honor clean." They fight "in the air, on land, and sea." The Marine Corps is Valhalla for Warriors. U.S. Marines need no song. They have a hymn.
Ironically, no one knows who wrote the hymn, which was in widespread use by the mid-1800s. Col. A.S. McLemore, USMC, spent several years trying to identify the origin of the tune. In 1878 he told the leader of the Marine Band that the tune had been adopted from the comic opera Genevieve de Barbant, by Jaques Offenback. Yet, others believe the tune originated from a Spanish folk song. Whatever! Regardless of its origin, The Marines' Hymn has remained a revered icon of the United States Marine Corps for almost 200 years.
In 1929 The Marines' Hymn became the official hymn of the Corps. Thirteen years later in November 1942 the Commandant approved a change in the words of the first verse, fourth line. Because of the increasing use of aircraft in the Corps, the words were changed to "In the air, on land, and sea." No other changes have been made since that time. When you have attained absolute perfection, there is no need for further modification:

 

[Squalus]

Well Happy Birthday to our brothers of different mothers. Eventhough, you still are not older than your Army counterparts, we all have about the same job to do. Well deserved 230 years of protecting this country and it's freedoms. May we live another year to celebrate another.