Semper Fi!

[Geoff Withnell]

Absent Companions! (raises his glass).

Although I am a Marine, I honor all of my comrades from all our nations and services. We all signed that blank check payable to "defense of freedom" in any amount up to and including our lives.
My parents had an interesting experience in going to an US Air Force band concert recently. The band leader said they were going to play the anthems of all the US armed forces branches, and if you had a connection to the one being played, please stand. They played for the Army -they stood, my uncle was Army in WW2. They played for the Navy - they stood, my Dad was Navy in WW2. They played for the Air Force - they stood, my son was Air Force. They played for the Corps - they stood, I'm a Marine. They played for the Coast Guard - they stood, my son-in-law was a Coastie. We have always had a tradition of service in our family (my Grandpa was in the British Army in WW1) but we had never realized that we covered all the bases!

[creagdhubh]

I served from 84 to 91. Then I worked directly for the USMC in the DoD. My dad served two tours in Vietnam as a squad leader and my grandfather was severely wounded on Iwo Jima. I proudly wear my Leatherneck tartan with my EGA as a kilt pin, my EGA cap badge, and an EGA belt buckle (when I'm allowed to wear the big belt).

And per Commandant Amos last year, officially there is no such thing as a former Marine. Direct quote, "A Marine is a Marine. I set that policy two weeks ago - there's no such thing as a former Marine. You're a Marine, just in a different uniform and you're in a different phase of your life. But you'll always be a Marine because you went to Parris Island, San Diego or the hills of Quantico. There's no such thing as a former Marine."

OORAH!

And as for all the cool stuff, if you slap an EGA on it, Marines will buy it. I know retired Marines who know the Sgt. Grit catalog by heart and buy up every new thing that comes out. I'm not that bad, but we as a group are a very loyal one, and extremely proud of our service and given an opportunity (and sometimes without opportunity), will advertise it to the world We are a strange bunch, but a good bunch.

Well said!!! Semper Fidelis and Ductus Exemplo!

[Sir William]

My parents had an interesting experience in going to an US Air Force band concert recently. The band leader said they were going to play the anthems of all the US armed forces branches, and if you had a connection to the one being played, please stand.

I've had a similar experience at Wolf Trap a few years ago.

They played for the Air Force - My Dad was retired Air Force, my brother was currently serving, and I was an Air Force civilian at the time. They played for the Army - I had served as an Army civilian for 10 years, plus been in ROTC, and my Dad had served in the Army. They played for the Navy - I'd been in the Navy. They played for the Marines - I was still in the Reserves. I sat during the Coast Guard but I could have probably stood as I've friends who are serving.

Last May we were attending a luau at the Hale Koa, the military resort, in Honolulu. The Hale Koa is open to active, reserve, retired military and DOD civilians. They asked the veterans (to include the government civilians) to stand for their service. Again, I stood for the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines. Our table mates were quite impressed that I had a direct connection to so many services.