ORLANDO, Fla. – Happy 247th birthday, Marines!
Nov. 10, 1775, marks the day that this proud fighting force was born — yes, even before America won its independence.
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You may see random men and women wishing each other happy birthday on this day and think, “It’s not their birthday,” but for these leathernecks, it’s certainly a day to celebrate.
During the cake-cutting ceremony every Marine Corps birthday, the cake is traditionally cut with the Mameluke sword, and the first three pieces are presented to the guest of honor, the oldest Marine present and the youngest Marine present.
Since we aren’t having cake together to celebrate, I thought I’d break down the world-famous song “The Marine’s Hymn.” You’ve heard Jim Nabors, aka Gomer Pyle, sing it. No, he never served as a Marine — or in any branch of the military — but when I was in Marine Corps boot camp, there was a recruit that had the last name “Pyle”. Needless to say, he had a hard time with the drill instructors, but I digress.
From the Halls of Montezuma
In 1847, U.S. Marines and Army troops fought Mexican forces defending Mexico City in the Mexican-American War in the Battle of Chapultepec. Americans were able to capture Chapultepec Castle, a historic site known as the Halls of Montezuma, effectively ending the war.
To the Shores of Tripoli;
During the First Barbary War – the first foreign war fought by the U.S. after the American Revolution – Marine Lieutenant Presley O’Bannon led eight Marines and a force of mercenaries on a surprise attack on the city of Derna on “the shores of Tripoli”.
We fight our country’s battles
In the air, on land and sea;
Everyone knows about the Corps’ land power, but not everyone knows that the Marines are under the Department of the Navy and have quite the air and sea presence. My MOS in the Marines — or Military Occupational Specialty — was aviation ordnance. According to The Kennedy Center, in 1942, the Commander of the Marine Corps changed “On the land as on the sea” to the current wording, to reflect the addition of air power.
First to fight for right and freedom
Marines are often the first boots on the ground when a battle starts.
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
If you’ve met a Marine, you know they’re proud.
of United States Marine.
Our flags unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
Flag etiquette states that the American flag only be flown from sunrise to sunset unless properly illuminated at night
We have fought in ev’ry clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
Marines are trained to fight in every climate and terrain and are prepared to deploy at any time.
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
Marines love to tease their brothers and sisters in the other branches of the armed forces...
Ever look on Heaven’s scenes;
....even if it’s about who get’s to the “action” first in heaven.
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.
The Marines currently guard more than 150 U.S. embassies around the world.
Here are some other Marine Corps facts:
Despite your job in the Corps, every Marine is a rifleman first.
The Marine motto Semper Fidelis, or Semper Fi as commonly heard, is Latin for always faithful.
You may have heard the nickname “Devil Dogs” for Marines. It is said to have originated during WW I at The Battle of Belleau Wood. Germans called the attacking Marines “Teufel Hunden” which translates into devil dog.
The Marine Band is called the “The President’s Own,” having played at every presidential inauguration since Thomas Jefferson.
The Marine Corps is its own branch of the U.S. military, but it falls under the Department of the Navy.
Celebrities that served in the Marine Corps include Drew Carey, Montel Williams, Rob Riggle, Shaggy, Gene Hackman, Steve McQueen, Adam Driver, Ted Williams, Ed McMahon and Harvey Keitel.
Marines are also sometimes called jarheads, either because of the haircuts — the squared head and closely cropped sides resembling a flat top of a jar — or from WWII when sailors referred to Marines’ appearance in their dress blues uniforms with their high collars and their heads popping out of the tops, resembling mason jars.
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