Semper Fi-- Marines celebrate 232nd year

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.

"I would do it again. I think I did more to help my country in the service than I ever would have done by myself. It was wonderful," Chris Ohlhues of Custer Park said in reflecting on her service in the U.S. Marines Corps during World War II at Parris Island in South Carolina.

Marines and others are invited to celebrate the 232nd birthday of the Corps from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday with cake and coffee at the Malcolm J. Mayo VFW Post 5422 at Baltimore and Third Street in Wilmington. The Marines were first commissioned by the Continental Congress on Nov. 10, 1775.

Thanks for the memories.

Some things you never forget - they are just burned indelibly in your mind.

I went through Yemassee in '59.

We were herded up to the barracks, stripped the bunks down and moved them outside.
Then we learned what a field day is.
We field dayed the floor with buckets of sand and water on hands and knees with bare hands for scrub brushes.
Then squeegied the floor dry with our hands, brought the bunks back in and reassembled them.

We were then stood at attention in front until the bus for P.I. arrived.
I never saw Yemassee again but remember every detail vividly to this day.

Here are a couple of interesting articles about the old Yemassee barracks.
The town was/is trying to restore it:

http://www.hiltonhead-sc.net/hiltonheadattractions/yemassee.php

http://ebooks.ebookmall.com/title/yemassee-station-bennett-ebooks.htm

http://www.boston.com/travel/getaways/us_south/articles/2005/06/15/once_swimming_with_marine_life_sleepy_sc_town_tries_to_revitalize/

Semper Fi Mac!

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