Question for Americans please (re Scottish-American regiments??)

[creagdhubh]

While the Leatherneck tartan may not be official, I have it on good authority (a friend who was stationed there) that on at least one occasion the formal evening Retreat ceremony at USMC Hqtrs at 8th and I in DC has included a piper in Dress Blue blouse and Leatherneck kilt. If it's good enough for 8tgh & I, it's good enough for me!

And me too!

Semper Fidelis!

[KD Burke]

There is another point to be considered. Many of the immigrants to the US had not been gently treated "back home." I think in addition to the external presure to conform and assimilate, there was often an internal motivation to avoid all things British as well.

[Silk]

There is another point to be considered. Many of the immigrants to the US had not been gently treated "back home." I think in addition to the external presure to conform and assimilate, there was often an internal motivation to avoid all things British as well.

I can understand this motivation. Aside from my Loyalist and German roots, I have quite a bit of roots in England too and some of them are Romanichal. However, apparently the prejudice and discrimination against that group is so bad that when that part of my family came to the New World, they completely hid their ethnicity and sadly even did not talk about it to succeeding generations. I only found out a few years back when a fellow from the U.K. contacted me by email (in response to a posting I had made on Ancestry.com inquiring about an ancestor) and told me he'd been studying that part of my family for many years and attached an article he had written about my ancestor having been murdered in London (which I knew nothing of.) He thought I knew about my family history (that branch) and mind you I was completely shocked as I had no idea whatsoever and had never even heard of this ethnic group. But that is just one example of how discrimination can provoke a culture to go underground so to speak when they leave for a life in the New World!

Silk

[RogerWS76]

One Scottish influence in the very early years was when the regiments and minutemen who marched to defend Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, chose to wear the White Cockade to distinguish themselves as they did not have any standard or established uniform at the time. This was specifically in reference to the tradition of the late '45 Uprising and a reference to the Bonny Prince and his habit of wearing a white cockade on his cap!

[thescot]

While the Leatherneck tartan may not be official, I have it on good authority (a friend who was stationed there) that on at least one occasion the formal evening Retreat ceremony at USMC Hqtrs at 8th and I in DC has included a piper in Dress Blue blouse and Leatherneck kilt. If it's good enough for 8tgh & I, it's good enough for me!

Ditto! If it's good for 8th and I, it's good for the entire country!

Kind of like General Bullmoose! (tossing a bone to those who enjoy Broadway.)

[castledangerous]

I only found out a few years back when a fellow from the U.K. contacted me by email (in response to a posting I had made on Ancestry.com inquiring about an ancestor) and told me he'd been studying that part of my family for many years and attached an article he had written about my ancestor having been murdered in London (which I knew nothing of.) He thought I knew about my family history (that branch) and mind you I was completely shocked as I had no idea whatsoever and had never even heard of this ethnic group. But that is just one example of how discrimination can provoke a culture to go underground so to speak when they leave for a life in the New World!

Silk

Wait, of what ethnic group do you speak? You had never heard of British?

[EagleJCS]

Wait, of what ethnic group do you speak? You had never heard of British?

I think she is referring to her 'Romanichal' (i.e. Romany, Roma, or Rom - a.k.a. 'gypsy') roots.

[rmccool]

Part of the issue is that the American culture seems to have always emphasized "what's new, and what's next," and had relatively little interest in history or tradition. Originally, this was probably a matter of practicality (it's hard to worry about tradition when you're trying to survive on a tough frontier), but over time it seems to have become part of our collective psyche. Most Americans know relatively little history, either our own or anyone else's, and what history we "know" is often a mish-mash of myth, tall tales, wistful thinking, and a few random facts. Few Americans seem to consider this a problem.

In fact, many of us seem to believe that if it's been done before, it's not worth doing again, and should be replaced by something new. A quote from Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, sums up the attitude (whether consciously held or not) of many Americans. She said, "I have an almost complete disregard of precedent, and a faith in the possibility of something better. It irritates me to be told how things have always been done. I defy the tyranny of precedent. I go for anything new that might improve the past."

[Silk]

Wait, of what ethnic group do you speak? You had never heard of British?

Eagle got it. Romanichals are Romany/Rom/Roma/"Gypsy" who settled in the U.K. starting back a few centuries ago.

Silk

[MacGumerait]

This is not entirely accurate. While there are number of tartans representing the US Military, the DoD has not officially recognized any tartans for any of it's component departments. The US Army and US Navy tartans were both designed by Strathmore Woolens (Mackie was an employee for the Navy). The Leatherneck was designed by two Marines no longer subject to revielle, Bob Hall and RH Macleod. The USMC Dress Blue by our own Steve Ashton. (I don't know where the US Air Force came from.)

Other than the tartans used by the Pipe Bands of the various academies (which means the tartan represents the academy in question only), the only branch of the US Armed Forces which I am aware of having an authorized tartan is the US Coast Guard. It is limited in use as part of the uniform to the USCGR Pipe Band, but the tartan was fully authorized by the Commandant in 2002.

I definitely support any Vet wearing any one of these tartans to show his/her service; I would recommend they don't do it "on the clock", though.

You are absolutely correct . Apologies if there was confusion . I wasn't referring to the manual or the regs . Only responding to the OP's question about " Scottish influence " in the US Military .

I do understand that the DoD has not " officially " recognized most of these tartans .... but .... as said in the field ... " Headquarters has their problems and I have mine " .