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MARINES FOUNDED: November 10, 1775 MOTTO: Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful) MASCOT: English Bulldog, since 1922
● The Marine Corps Hymn (1929) is the oldest of the official Armed Services songs. The song writer is unknown. ● The red-colored leg stripe on the Dress Blue uniform is known as the “Blood Stripe,” in remembrance of those who stormed Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City in 1847 (referred to as the “Halls of Montezuma” in the Marine Corps Hymn). ● Nicknames include: Leatherneck (uniform had a ridged leather collar to protect their jugular vein during sword fights); Jarhead (the stiff collar made it look like their head was sticking out of a Mason jar); and Devil Dogs (during WWI the Germans called them Teufelshunde, the ferocious mountain dogs of Bavarian folklore). ● The Mameluke Sword has been used by Marine officers since 1825. It's also used to cut the cake when they celebrate the Corps birthday. ● During WWII, Native American Navajo Code Talkers used the Navajo language to encode messages. The code was never broken by the enemy. The Code Talkers greatest victory was on Iwo Jima, also known as “Sulfur Island.” ● In 2002, their combat utility uniform’s pattern of “squares” was created by a computer. ● Actress Bea Arthur (Maude) was a Marine! ● Marine Major Bill Hendricks was the founder of Toys for Tots. ● HMX-1 is a special squadron which transports the President in the Marine One helicopter.
Besides our five branches of the military, we also have the Special Forces within the branches. These include Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Army Special Forces (Green Berets), U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), and the U.S. Marine Force Reconnaissance. And let us not forget those that did their contribution for the war effort on the home front during WWI and WWII. While the men served in the military, a lot of women worked the men’s jobs: Some women worked on military factory assembly lines, some on airplanes, and some at the naval shipyards. These women were collectively known as “Rosie the Riveter” and without their vital efforts, the war outcome may have been very different. I’m proud to say my mom was one of them. A museum dedicated to the “Rosies” is located in Richmond, CA. For those currently serving, or retired, and to those that paid the ultimate sacrifice...I thank you and SALUTE YOU! For the rest of us, may we always remember The United States of America is the home of the free, because of our brave! For the price of our freedom is not, and never will be, free!¨
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