GUNNY G: TRUE BIRTHDAY U.S. MARINE CORPS...by Gunny G!

“… When the peace treaty with Britain finally was signed in 1783, only the Continental frigate Alliance was still in commission. A small Marine guard commanded by Lieutenant Thomas Elwood stayed with the frigate until Congress decided to sell the vessel in September.

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With the sale of the Alliance, the Continental Navy and Marines went out of existence.”From, The United States Marines A History, by BGen Ed Simmons…”…As for the Marines, only the slenderest thread of continuity can be claimed by virtue of “marines” serving in the Revenue Cutter Service…

There were to be Marine “quotas”…not “detachments” for there was no corps from which they could be detached……on 11 July 1798, the true birthday of the Corps,President John Adams approved…establishing and organizing a Marine Corps.”

-Dick Gaines

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Customs and TraditionsMarine Corps Birthday Celebration”The U.S. Marine Corps begins preparations for its “birthday party” every summer. Activities become more feverish as the fall hues arrive.

By early November, every Marine is either rehearsing his role in the “party” or pressing, polishing, and spit-shining in order to appear at his or her best for the Birthday Ball.

This has not always been the case, however. In fact, Marines have not always celebrated their founding on November the 10th.Formal commemoration of the birthday of the Marine Corps began on 10 November 1921. That particular date was chosen because on that day the Second Continental Congress resolved in 1775 to raise two battalions of Continental Marines.Until 1921 the birthday of the Corps had been celebrated on another date. An unidentified newspaper clipping from 1918 refers to the celebration of the 120th birthday of the Marine Corps on 11 July “as usual with no fuss.”

It is doubtful that there was any real celebration at all. Further inspection of documents and publications prior to 1921 shows no evidence of ceremonies, pageants, or parties.

The July date was commemorated between 1798 and 1921 as the birthday of the Corps. During the Revolution, Marines had fought on land and sea, but at the close of the Revolution the Marine Corps and the Navy were all but…..

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via TRUE BIRTHDAY U.S. MARINE CORPS…by Gunny G!.

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