Today, 10 November 2011, is the 236th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. I'm not much of a writer, but six years ago I wrote what I consider one of my best. It's a little dated now and I could update it easily, but I'm not going to. I don't think it would improve it. I've read it over many times and I still get a little misty when I do. Please go read
The Birthday Ball.
7 comments:
I hadn't read your post from 2005 before. I just loved it. I can see why you'd be proud of that piece.
I served in the Marines between 1970 and 1972. I didn't go the the war. Even before my discharge I became extremely anti-government, anti-war and anti-Marine Corps.
I remain that way still, seeing not much of patriotism or heroism in our current volunteers as much as frustration and a lack of economic choices. I don't see them as the noble paragons of virtue they're often touted to be but rather saps who have been duped by the government.
Nevertheless, I can't deny the emotional attachment I feel for fellow Marines. Never does a November 10th go by that I don't reach out in some way to my fellows.
Your essay about the Birthday Ball ceremonies touched me deeply. I thank you for that.
Well, as someone once said, there is really no such thing as an "ex-Marine". :-)
Happy Birthday to the 'Corps! Gordon
From a 'stepbrother-in-arms', I send you muchas gracias for your service during and after your time in uniform.
And yes, there is no such thing as an 'ex-marine'. Once you step out of MCRD, you ain't the same knucklehead you were when you got off the bus. Boys fall in, men march out!
By the way, are any of the Klown Kar Kandidates former military?
Fine post, Gordon. Many honorable returns, to you and all your tribe.
Rick Perry was a C-130 truck driver in the Air Force, I think.
Happy Birthday to the Corps! Sorry I forgot this year.
Re Klown Kar Kandidates & military service:
I think Perry is the only one--Air Force. But despite the photos of him posing heroically in front of a T-38, he was a transport pilot.
Always funny to me how the politicians who are so hot for war pretty much never served in the military, or found some way to keep from putting their little pink asses on the line, in any of our many conflicts (ya listenin' there, Dick Cheney?)
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