Earned. Never Given.

We don't ask for anything more than everything you've got. And we will let you know when you've given it. You will be measured not by what you have, but how much of yourself you're willing to give. Not by your ability to pull yourself up, but by your commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder. Not by your strength, but your honor. you will not be given anything other than the opportunity to prove that you have the courage to stand on an impenetrable line of warriors stretching 234 years. Our title is earned, never given. And what's earned is yours forever. -- Marine Corps manifesto.

Happy Birthday Marines. This country owes everyone who ever served so much more than we can ever hope to repay. From the battle in Derna (Tripoli) where the Corps fought on foreign soil for the first time and the battle of Chapultepec (Halls of Montezuma)to the Boxer Rebellion and the Battle of Belleau Wood a 20 day slugfest with the Germans in WWI that ended with a marine Marine bayonet charge then they held off a counterattack with their supreme sharpshooting skills. The World War II island hopping Marines took heavy casualties in places like; Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Tarawa, Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Tough men in Godforsaken places fighting their way to the home island and the end of the war. In Korea the Inchon Landing and the surrounded and cut off "Chosin Few" who decimated the 10 Red Chinese divisions who attacked them. Then they fought their way back to the sea and American forces. In Vietnam there were few named battles but the marines fought and won the battles although we lost the war thanks to a total lack of support back home from politicians. Khe Sanh is a place that no marine will ever forget 77 days under siege in that red dirt outpost. They fought in Panama, Operation Desert Storm,and helped out in Africa bringing humanitarian aid, and intervened in Kosovo. We all know what they have done and continue to do in Iraq in places like Fallujah and Ramadi and also in Afghanistan hunting Taliban and Islamo-fascists. These Marines continue to fight for our freedoms and die for each other, we can never pay them back but we must never stop looking for a way to let them know we appreciate them. Semper Fi! Happy Birthday and thank you Marines!