Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Marines Guard Heaven's Streets on 235th Birthday

Happy Birthday to the United States Marine Corps! Marines, proud members of The United States Marine Corps, or USMC, celebrate their 235th birthday today, Wednesday, November 10, 2010.

You are invited to celebrate the Marine Corps' 235th birthday at the Marine Corps' official ball. The Commandant of the Marine Corps is inviting the general public to officially celebrate the Marine Corps' 235th birthday. The United States Marine Corps' 235th Happy Birthday Celebration will be this coming Saturday, November 13, 2010 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. This is the Marine Corps' official ball, and everyone is invited. For more information, please click Commandant's Marine Corps Birthday Ball. If you are unable to attend the Marine Corps' 235th birthday ball, please contact your local Marine Corps' unit to find out if there will be a birthday celebration in your area.

The Marine Corps began on November 10, 1775, when the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to pass a resolution which stated: "'two Battalions of Marines be raised' for service as landing forces with the fleet." The Continental Marines were established with this resolution. These Marines served on both land and sea. The Continental Marines ended after the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783. The Marine Corps was established again on July 11, 1798. The Marines often fought against Barbary Pirates along "the Shores of Tripoli." The United States Marine Corps has protected America throughout its long and honorable history. 1

1 Click
Brief History of the United States Marine Corps to read more interesting information about the history of the United States Marine Corps.

The "Marines' Hymn" has been widely used since the mid-1800's, but the "Marines' Hymn" did not become the official hymn of the Marine Corps until 1929. The writer of The Marines' Hymn remains anonymous to this day. There is a bit of a controversy as to who actually wrote the hymn. According to Heritage Press International -- History of the Marines' Hymn, Col. A. S. McLemore, USMC, spent years trying to discover who wrote "The Marines' Hymn." Finally, in 1878, Col. McLemore told the Marine Band leader that he believed the hymn had been adopted from Jacques Offenbach's operetta "Genevieve de Brabant." However, other people think the hymn was derived from a Spanish folk tune. 2

Lyrics to the famous "Marines' Hymn"

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 MARINES.

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze,
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every 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. 2

2 Click
Heritage Press International -- History of The Marines' Hymn to read more about the history of "The Marines' Hymn."

Happy 235th Birthday, United States Marine Corps! Thank you, honored Marines, for everything you have done, and continue to do, for Americans and America.
If there is any truth to the lyrics in The "Marines' Hymn," regarding the sentiment that Marines even guard Heaven's streets, then I am glad to know I can depend on the Marines to keep me safe!

Related Link:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner