chuckography

Happy Birthday Marine....

Today is the 233rd birthday of the United States Marine Corps.

I slipped on one of my many USMC t-shirts and headed out to shake the hand of a Marine.

I wanted to wish him - or her - a Happy Birthday and say thanks..

Hunkered down in the middle of the Aviation Avenue/Remount Road interchange construction, there is a small facility with the familiar scarlet and gold signage: Marine Corps Reserve.

I shook a young man's hand and asked about the Birthday Ball this evening. "Sir," he replied, "we had the ball last Friday." I looked quizzical and he continued "we had to, sir, it was a reserve training weekend."

The tradition at the Ball is to serve the first slice of cake to the oldest Marine present. I asked who ate cake first..when did he join up?

"Sir, the oldest Marine there joined in 1967."

I have a good chance for first slice next year, at the 234th celebration.

I joined the Marines on June 17, 1957.

(The picture above shows me on field maneuvers in Vieques, off Puerto Rico, in 1959)

Labels: 233rd Birthday Ball, Aviation Avenue, highway interchange construction, Marine Corps, oldest Marine, Remount Road, USMC, Vieques

posted by chucker @ 3:12 PM