Leathernecks Celebrate a Birthday

– Opinion By Kurt Staudter Springfield, Vermont

“It’s because of all you men and women that we enjoy the freedoms and liberty we have today…”

“In every battle and skirmish since the birth of our corps, Marines have acquitted themselves with the greatest distinction, winning new honors on each occasion until the term “Marine” has come to signify all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue.” Major General John A. Lejeune, 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps, from the original 1921 birthday message of the Commandant – Smithfield, VA..
Having never served in the military myself, each year I find it important to show gratitude in this space for those that took time out of their lives and spent it in service with our armed forces. So instead of the usual Veteran’s Day piece, this year I got to participate in something special – A Marine Corps Birthday Celebration.
One of my earliest memories as a child is this big furry guy with a strange symbol tattooed on his arm. That guy turned out to be my dad, and the symbol is the anchor – globe and eagle of the U.S. Marines. Living now at 88 in Virginia, he usually wears short-sleeved shirts proudly displaying that fading but still recognizable tattoo. Anywhere you go with my dad there’ll be someone that’ll mention the tattoo –Usually other Marines. A server at a restaurant, someone at the grocery store, or standing in line at the Post Office; someone will start a conversation with “When and where did you serve Marine?”
My dad served in Korea in 1951 and spent his time in the Marines as a crew chief on one of the first Marine transport helicopters the Sikorsky HRS-1. While in Marine Helicopter Transport Division HMR-161 he was involved in everything from transporting VIPs to rescue operations in combat zones. The military quickly embraced the versatile nature of the helicopter and found new and creative ways to use it.
On this last visit down to see my dad in Virginia we were in time for the November 10 Marine Corps Birthday celebration. Through the years I’d heard about what a big deal it is for former Marines to turn out in communities all around the world to mark the occasion of the corps creation by the Second Continental Congress on the tenth of November 1775. Although before 1921 there was no formal recognition of the Marine Corps Birthday but that changed with the 1921 order of Commandant Lejeune. Since then the annual celebrations have spread. Here in Smithfield is a gathering of Marines mostly from the Suffolk, VA area, and what started out with two high school buddies that marked the occasion of the 200th birthday in 1975 by going out to lunch together, has turned into an always growing list of over 180 that get invitation each year. Tonight there are about three dozen Marines and around 20 guests. For many of the Marines this is the highlight of their yearly social calendar.
This event is steeped in tradition: First is the social hour that brings together friends and comrades at arms. As the Marines young and old moved around the room greetings of “happy birthday” could be heard through the laughter and fun. Next comes the reading of the 1921 message from Commandant Lejeune. Then we hear from the current Commandant, General David H. Berger, and he said inpart, “Every Marine trains, prepares, 24-7 to get the phone call in the middle of the night that your unit’s deploying. The phone call that you weren’t expecting, but you’re ready for…” adding, “Once a Marine, always a Marine is not just a slogan,” Berger said. “Here’s to 244 years of success as a Corps.” Then there’s the cutting of the birthday cake.
Each year it’s determined which Marines are the youngest and oldest at the gathering, and they’re led up to the cake. A sword is given to the oldest to cut the cake, and he gives the first slice to the youngest Marine. This was the third time my father got to cut the cake. Through the years it was always a WWII Marine that cut the cake, but unfortunately fewer of those fellows get to the birthday now-a-days. After the cake is cut there is a robust singing of the Marine Corps Hymn. Fortunately for my brother Rob and I, my dad taught us the song as kids and would have us marching around the living room singing all three verses.After cutting the cake, and while still holding the sword in a somewhat menacing fashion (Perhaps so no one would stop him from having his say), he had these words for the gathering of Marines – “It’s because of all you men and women that we enjoy the freedoms and liberty we have today… Thank you, Happy Birthday and Semper Fi!” Well said dad. With that he handed the sword to the young Marine.