The 237th USMC Birthday Ball... was EPIC!

Yes.... yes my friends.. the USMC Birthday Ball was indeed epic. Did you really have any doubts that it would be? I certainly didn't! For starters anytime you are fortunate enough to be able to attend something that is so meaningful - it's bound to be epic. Add to that the cast of characters that we had joining us at the ball and I knew it would be beyond epic!

I was delighted to get to share this experience with some incredibly dear friends (both Marines and non-Marine, some of the non-Marines Military and some non-military) who had been to the ball before. We'd had great times in the times we'd been in the past and knew we would have a great time together again! 

We were also delighted to get to bring some friends to the ball who were either new to this particular ball (which let's face it is the Granddaddy of them all!) or new to a Marine Corps Ball in general. Again some of these folks were Marines, some were other Military and some were just great supporters of the military. While I was excited for the ball in general I was even more excited to see how these folks reacted to this amazing event. 

For those of you who know me know I am in general a jeans and gym shoes girl but there is just something fun about getting all dressed up for such a fabulous event! 

The Marine Corps Birthday Ball is an amazing and emotional event that is very hard to describe - it's one that must be experienced. Being in the midst of so many great individuals who have so valiantly and selflessly served our country is bound to make you at least a bit emotional. (To be honest if it doesn't I might have to wonder about you!) Every year the Commandant creates a video for the event (it happens to be the same video shown at all events) and so far every year it has made us (yep Ken too) at a minimum tear up and last year flat out have tears rolling down our cheeks. Here is this year's video http://www.dvidshub.net/video/158810/honor-country-2012-marine-corps-birthday-message#.ULDUNTkWEfM

All of it is amazing but one of the particularly special things is the cake cutting. The Commandant and the Guest of Honor (this year it was an very inspirational young man from the Wounded Warriors) get the first 2 pieces (cut by a mamaluke by the Commandant). Then the next piece goes to the oldest Marine in attendance and it is then passed to the youngest Marine in attendance to represent the passing of knowledge. VERY cool! In fact at the USNA Marine Corps Ball it was even more special because the oldest Marine in attendance was a woman who was 99!!! Wow!

If you get a chance check out the Wounded Warriors page http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

If you ever get the chance to attend any Marine Corps Birthday Ball I HIGHLY recommend you go! It's an experience that I wish every American could partake in because I think many Americans would have a much more patriotic view if they did....

Happy Birthday Marines!

Well I am a day early but since I don't expect to have a lot of time to type up a blog tomorrow I figured I'd type a quick one today!

I am excited that we are headed to the Commandant's USMC Birthday Ball tomorrow night. It just so happens that it is on the actual birthday November 10th.

I am proud to be a Navy wife however I must tell you that the Marines do celebrations right! I am proud to be able to go celebrate the 237th birthday of the Marine Corps alongside many of my dear friends, some of them Marines, and celebrate together this wonderful tradition in our country. It is so hard to describe the emotions of a Marine Corps Ball but I promise I will try and do the best I can to do so next week after the ball.

Here's the Wikipedia article on the Birthday Ball and it's beginnings etc. for you to read in the meantime (if you're interested)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_birthday_ball

Be sure and wish a Marine Happy Birthday when you see them in the next handful of days and be sure and thank those who serve our country for their service because without them we would not enjoy the freedoms that we do as Americans. Freedom truly isn't free.


I leave you with the lyrics for a fantastic song....

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 Marine.


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.