A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....04-12-04....Military Monday

Billie, The Mayor

[The Mayor]

I love that graphic Mama_Bear

[The Mayor]

Hiya jwfiv, hope you have a great day!

[The Mayor]

AMEN MEG!

[Pippin]

SEMPER FI!

(((Maggie)))!

[Mama_Bear]

I love that graphic Mama_Bear

Thank you, (((((((((the mayor)))))))))).

I scoured the internet last night for the perfect photo to go with the poem.......many that I found would have worked as well, but there was just something about this one that I kept coming back to.

[The Thin Man]

Good day, yer honor. Thanks for bringing us our military Monday thread.

Lady, what a letter! Their resolve and dedication and so inspiring.

[jwfiv]

Howdy, Mr. Mayor...roger that, and will do.

Thanks for the good coffee...)

[The Mayor]

Your welcome and you are so right!

[LadyX]

That letter conveys so well the Esprit de Corps.
Should you ever have the opportunity, go aboard a Marine Corps Base and experience it, unlike any other service.

Living aboard Parris Island when I was instructing women recruits in the classroom, and the base overflowing with men preparing for combat in the Korean Conflict, it was a palpable thing.

Returning twice, in 1998 and 2002, it remained the same.
The last time, taking our 16-year old grandson there to see a graduating Company, I was amazed that I was transformed back into that mode!

From the moment I processed through at the Entrance, it was as if I had never left, and I was totally energized; so much so that before noon, my JrROTC grandson was literally begging me to please!! slow down..:))

What will strike you most is the extraordinary length the Marines you encounter will go to show civilians aboard respect.
You will be addressed courteously with a proper greeting: "Good morning/afternoon, Sir/Ma'am" - and they will yield the right of way to make sure they do not get in your way.

You will be struck by their erect bearing, and that certain 'gleam in their eyes' that separates them from all other servicemen and women.

Yes, they are infused with Something Different, and so profound it is indescribable to a great degree.
They *understand* that they are a link in a long, long chain....

Hmmm...might have to go back for another "homesick 'fix" and hear some genuine cadence calling for the recruits - the lullaby of my dreams..:))

[MEG33]

Terrific letter,Lady X and beautiful post,Mama Bear.

[Mama_Bear]

Your post reminded me how impressed I was after attending the Friday evening Marine Corps Parade at Eighth and Eye Marine Barracks in DC, many years ago. A neighbor friend of ours played the bugle in the "The Commandant's Own" Drum and Bugle Corps there as well as at a weekly ceremonies at the Statue of Wow Jima and Arlington Cemetery. This was back in the mid 60's.

I went into Google and found that the tradition continues today and that it is open to the public. Everyone should see this amazing performance if they are ever in DC. It is sure to be the highlight of their visit there.

Here is the information from the internet that I found....

From May through October, a ceremonial Evening Parade is held each Friday evening after nightfall at the Marine Barracks, Eighth and Eye. This colorful ceremony, executed under searchlight illumination, features the Marine Band, Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps, a special exhibition drill platoon, and a Battalion of Marines from the barracks. Evening Parades were first held in 1957 after a Marine Corps ceremonial detachment participated in the Bermuda International Searchlight Tattoo, and this parade became a fixed Marine Corps custom following the similar participation by a larger Marine detachment in the famed Edinburgh Searchlight Tattoo in Scotland in 1958. Evening Parades are open to the public, and any Noncommissioned Officer who desires to attend with a reasonable number of guests my obtain seats by telephoning the Marine Barracks Sergeant Major.

And a graphic.....

[Mama_Bear]

That would be Wow IWO Jima, of course. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

Good afternoon, MEG. Hope you have a wonderful day there in Texas.

[LadyX]

Thank you so much, Lori, for this wonderfully informative post! I can just imagine how impressive it is.

As for the typo, it was meant to be - - the Iwo Jima Monument makes one say, "WOW!" lol

Freezie - you might want enjoy seeing this later in the year.

[Billie]

Good afternoon, Rus, and Finest Family and FRiends. So thankful for the our Mighty Military and their resolve to keep America strong and free. God Bless each and every one, and our leaders for the tough decisions they have to make.

[LadyX]

"Freezie - you might want enjoy seeing this later in the year."

Note to Self:

Do not type and eat turkey noodle soup at the same time, and also fail to proof..:((

[Billie]

Thank you for this and all the great posts and links you've brought to today's thread. I get so upset with the media playing up all the bad stuff and making it appear that we're going backwards in this war, not forward. It shouldn't be too much to ask of them to be fair and balanced and report on the progress we're making and what a minority the insurgents are - not the majority of Iraqis.

Thanks, Maggie, so much for posting your letter, too. I hate that so many Americans don't get to hear this side of the war.

[Billie]

That's really beautiful, Lori. And you chose the perfect graphic to illustrate those words.

I am a soldier. Serving Proudly, standing tall.......
.....Say a prayer that I'll come home…It's me whose got your back.

[Diver Dave]

Hmmm...might have to go back for another "homesick 'fix" and hear some genuine cadence calling for the recruits - the lullaby of my dreams..:))

Maybe this will rekindle a memory - to the sounds of a s**t-can garbage can being thrown down the deck of the barracks...

Rise and Shine You Maggot-***ed Marine Wannabes

Music to the ears, eh?

[Mama_Bear]

That's really beautiful, Lori.

Thanks, Billie. I am having such fun on the threads today, but my post for tomorrow STILL isn't finished! Yikes, I have got to get busy. LOL.

TTYL