Happy (Observed) Veteran’s Day!
To my Army friends, I say “Hooah”
To my Navy friends, I say “anchors aweigh”
To my Marine Corps friends, I say “Semper Fi”
And to my fellow Air Force friends, I say “FORE!”
If I was in charge of education, every American would know the name William Eaton.
I read that the Commander of CentCom cancelled the Marine Corps Ball this week, due to “unforeseen operational commitments.”
HISTORY OF THE MARINES’ HYMN
The Marines’ Hymn is one of the most readily recognized songs in the world today and is the oldest of the service songs of our country. The history of the hymn has been clouded by the passing of time and confused by oral tradition. But there is no confusion on the part of the listener when The Marines’ Hymn is heard. It is as easily identified with the Marine Corps as “The Star-Spangled Banner” is with our nation. To all Marines it has become a sacred symbol of the pride and professionalism of a Marine and you will find them standing straight and tall at the position of attention when it is performed.
The music to the hymn is believed to have originated in the comic opera Geneviéve de Brabant composed by the French composer Jacques Offenbach. Originally written as a two-act opera in 1859, Offenbach revised the work, expanding it to three acts in 1867. This revised version included the song “Couplets des Deux Hommes d’Armes” and is the musical source of The Marines’ Hymn.
The author of the words to the hymn is unknown. One tradition suggested that an unknown Marine wrote the words in 1847. This would have been 20 years before the music was written by Offenbach and is not likely. The first two lines of the first verse were taken from words inscribed on the Colors of the Corps.
After the war with the Barbary pirates in 1805 the Colors were inscribed with the words “To the Shores of Tripoli.” After Marines participated in the capture of Mexico City and the Castle of Chapultepec (also known as the Halls of Montezuma) in 1847, the words on the Colors were changed to read “From the shores of Tripoli to the Halls of Montezuma.” The unknown author of the first verse of the hymn reversed this order to read “From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli.”
In 1929 the Commandant of the Marine Corps authorized the first official version of the The Marines’ Hymn, in which the fourth line of the first verse originally read “On the land as on the sea.” This was revised to its present version on Nov. 21, 1942, when the Commandant of the Marine Corps approved changing this line to “In the air, on land, and sea,” acknowledging the important role of aviation within the Corps:
“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.”
As a Army veteran, I remind my marine friends that November 10, Sesame Street debuted.
First flag of the United States marines.
Happy Birthday USMC!
My heartfelt best wishes for a USMC Happy Birthday!
And gratitude for all your service has done for this Nation!
Marines
All
Ride
In
Navy
Equipment
My son is a grunt. Oorah!
Being celebrated at libraries across the nation in Drag Queen Story Hour events. /s
Happy Birthday.
Semper Fi.
‘88-94.
To all my brother Marines, past and present, Happy Birthday to the Corps. May it always thrive. Hoist a glass today to honor them.
Where are you, Chesty Puller? The Corps needs you.
Semper fi
Do or Die
Semper Fidelis. Once a Marine always a Marine.
Happy birthday and Semper Fi to all of my Marine brothers and sisters.
Plt 236 Parris Island 19 Jun 1965
Alexander Basil Matthews (November 21, 1942 – September 22, 2018) was an American actor and singer best known for his appearance as Gunnery Sergeant Apone in the James Cameron film Aliens (1986).
He worked with James Cameron to make sure that the actors who played Marines acted like a real Marine Corps.
Matthews was a member of the United States Marine Corps who graduated at Parris Island on 25 May 1966, and served during the Vietnam War. On his website, he stated:
"I spent six years in the United States Marine Corps; I hold thirteen combat awards and decorations, including two purple hearts. I was the first black Marine in the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam to be meritoriously promoted to the rank of sergeant; I served with Kilo Battery, Fourth Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division, of that I am very proud."
I miss you most on this day and June 16th, John George Southall. When I arrived there you took me under your wing and showed me the ropes. I’ll never forget what you did for me. When I get up There, we’ll fire up our old Harley Panheads and go for a nice long ride in the Kansas Flinthills, the Kawhills. Say a prayer for me sometime Johnny. Semper Fi Marine, Tommy.
Happy Birthday, Bro!