deuddersun says...: Happy Birthday Marines!

Thursday, November 11, 2004

Happy Birthday Marines!

229 Years of Service With Honor!

(Image courtesy of Doug Kidd )

A Message From The Commandant Of The Marine Corps
(pdf warning)

Last night I attended the 229th Marine Corps Birthday Bash at Cookie's Tavern at 10th & Oregon Streets in Philadelphia. I had intended to meet some buddies earlier in the day, however, those plans were shelved due to an emergency at work. Every year I swear that I will not allow anything to interfere with the Birthday and yesterday was no exception. Until I recieved numerous messages from the Union Hall that a certain employer was in a tight jam due to a "shoot schedule revision" and was asking for me by name. The Union Rep told me this individual had said to him, "If anybody can get this done in time, it's that Old Jarhead!" How could I refuse?

Let me say that this individual is a great guy and has hired me frequently. He respects my abilities and opinions and is a pleasure to work for. There was no way I could refuse, and so to New York I went. Needless to say, I finished the job way ahead of schedule, was given permission to leave early, was paid for the entire 10 hours (with the last two hours at time and a half), and was booked again for Friday and Monday, and still made the party by 1900 hours!

The down side was, I couldn't find my buds! Yet as I surveyed the throngs outside Cookies, faces young and old, I realized that my "buds", no, my Brothers and Sisters were all there. More and more younger Vets are turning up. Vets of the current War in Iraq. Young, cocky, carefree, confident. Marines. And as I looked upon their young faces, flushed from the chilly evening air, I was struck by their eyes. I found myself looking into the same eyes I see in the mirror every morning. They may be young, but they are Men and Women of Steel. They will do whatever needs to be done. They are Marines.