Special time of Year

By: Alex Bridges

Cpl USMC 2002-2007

Each year there is one day in particular that Marines celebrate. It is the day of our birth, November 10th. This past year is no different. We turned 237 years old. Yes that means we have been protecting this nation since it was an ideal in the minds of our founding fathers. Our blood has been shed on nearly every continent. Our tears have soaked many clothes. We fight with a vigor that horrified German Shock Troops, for at the Battle of Belleau Wood they gave us the name Devil Dog. 

Many quotes have come from the lips of celebrities and political figures directed our way. My favorite was spoken by none other than a first lady: 

The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps! 
Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the United States, 1945

But there is one part of this year that tugs at my heart; that is the sacrifice that many of my brothers have made. Marines know that they might die in a foreign land, but we take pride in knowing that it is for a cause higher than ourselves. We fight in the moment for each other, we walk towards that moment for our country. For every hour of combat there are weeks of sweat spent training. We work to perfect our craft of killing. We understand that we must be the proverbial big stick. Through our strength we make our enemies tremble, through our sacrifice we make our fellow citizen free. 

Please join me on this day, November the 11th in thanking the Marines that have served, as well as the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen. November 10th was the day for the brothers to unite November 11th is the day for the rest of the nation to join in. Happy Birthday Marines, Happy Veterans Day to the rest of the Servicemen.