Happy Birthday America

Happy 238th Birthday Marines

By Terry Orr

USN Retired

Happy Birthday Marines and thank you for your sacrifice, loyal and dedicated service! Bravo Zulu 

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY MESSAGE 2013

Date Signed: 10/29/2013

ALMARS Active Number: 037/13

R 291451Z OCT 13

UNCLASSIFIED/

ALMAR 037/13

MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS(UC)/F002//

SUBJ/UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY MESSAGE 2013//

GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  FOR 238 YEARS, THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS HAS PROUDLY SERVED OUR GREAT NATION WITH UNFAILING VALOR - BOLSTERED BY THE ENDURING FORTITUDE OF OUR FELLOW MARINES, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR FRIENDS.  THIS IS WHY EACH YEAR ON NOVEMBER 10TH, MARINES FROM ALL GENERATIONS GATHER TOGETHER, IN GROUPS LARGE AND SMALL, TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF OUR CORPS AND TO REFLECT ON THE PROUD LEGACY AND WARRIOR ETHOS WE SHARE.  THIS IS WHAT UNITES US AS MARINES.  FROM OUR FIRST BATTLE AT NEW PROVIDENCE TO TODAY IN AFGHANISTAN, MARINES HAVE ALWAYS SHOWN THAT THEY WERE MADE OF TOUGHER STUFF - THAT WHEN THE ENEMY'S FIRE POURED IN FROM ALL ANGLES, AND THE SITUATION WAS GRIM, MARINES UNEQUIVOCALLY KNEW THAT THEIR FELLOW MARINES WOULD STAY BEHIND THEIR GUNS, FIGHT COURAGEOUSLY, AND DRIVE THE ENEMY FROM THE BATTLEFIELD.  WE HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN HARDSHIP, FATIGUE, AND PAIN ... BUT WE HAVE NEVER KNOWN WHAT IT IS TO LOSE A BATTLE!

2.  MARINES OF GENERATIONS PAST BUILT OUR REPUTATION AS THE MOST DISCIPLINED AND HONORABLE WARRIORS TO EVER SET FOOT ON A BATTLEFIELD, AND WE HAVE TRIUMPHED IN EVERY BATTLE BECAUSE OUR CORPS HAS ALWAYS FOCUSED ON IRON DISCIPLINE AND COMBAT EXCELLENCE.  THIS IS WHO WE ARE...THIS IS WHAT WE DO!  IT MATTERS NOT WHETHER YOU CARRIED AN M-1, AN M-14, OR M-16.  IT MATTERS NOT WHETHER YOU FOUGHT ON A LONELY ISLAND IN THE PACIFIC, ASSAULTED A CITADEL IN THE JUNGLE, OR MARCHED UP TO BAGHDAD.  IT MATTERS NOT WHETHER YOU ARE A GRUNT, A PILOT OR A LOGGIE.  WHAT MATTERS IS THAT, WHEN THE CHIPS WERE DOWN AND THINGS GOT TOUGH, YOUR FELLOW MARINES COULD COUNT ON YOU TO STAND AND FIGHT ... AND FIGHT YOU DID!

3.  THIS YEAR, WE CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF SEVERAL EPIC BATTLES IN OUR CELEBRATED HISTORY: THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 2D MARINE DIVISION LANDING ON TARAWA, THE 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF HUE CITY, AND THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE "MARCH UP" TO BAGHDAD.  MARINES WHO FOUGHT IN THESE LEGENDARY BATTLES EACH MADE THEIR MARK UPON THE HISTORY OF OUR CORPS.  THEY HAVE PASSED A RICH AND ILLUSTRIOUS LEGACY ON TO US - A MUCH HERALDED REPUTATION.  IT IS OURS TO JEALOUSLY GUARD, AND IT IS UP TO US TO MAKE OUR OWN MARKS AND THUS PROUDLY PASS IT ON TO THE GENERATIONS OF MARINES WHO WILL FOLLOW.

4.  SERGEANT MAJOR MICHEAL BARRETT JOINS ME IN CONGRATULATING EACH OF YOU.  BECAUSE OF YOU, YOUR SELFLESS SERVICE, AND YOUR MANY SACRIFICES, OUR CORPS REMAINS STRONG AND READY TO RESPOND TO ANY CRISIS.  THROUGHOUT HISTORY, MARINES HAVE FACED TOUGH TIMES AND THERE WILL BE TOUGH TIMES AHEAD, BUT THERE IS NO CHALLENGE WE CANNOT OVERCOME IF WE REMAIN HONORABLE AND ALWAYS FAITHFUL TO OUR NATION, OUR CONSTITUTION AND EACH OTHER.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARINES!

5.  SEMPER FIDELIS.  JAMES F. AMOS, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//

Happy Birthday Eeyore!!

By Diane Forrest

In 1963, around the same time I was getting ready to make my debut, some English department students at the University of Texas in Austin Texas decided to have a birthday party for a character in A.A. Milne's book, Winnie the Pooh.  Eeyore, a chronically depressed donkey in the story, has believed that no body remembered his birthday.  In fact, his friends had gathered together to throw him a surprise party.

According to wikepedia.com, the original event featured a trashcan full of lemonade, beer, honey sandwiches, a live, flower-draped donkey, and a may-pole (in keeping with the event's proximity to May Day). For many years the party was a UT tradition, but subsequently the annual Birthday Party became a tradition in Austin's hippie subculture.

Eeyore's Birthday Party is attended by people from a wide variety of backgrounds and ages, some of whom may have been attending for decades. Austin's hippie community still puts in a major appearance at the event, which they celebrate by forming large drum circles, which can sometimes contain hundreds of drummers and dancers in the large areas of the park not occupied by other events.

As of 2008, the event has also spread to Seattle's Cal Anderson Park as an annual celebration.

Today is Eeyore's birthday, and if your not in the Texas or Washington area where they are celebrating, you can still celebrate at home with the beating of the drums, or eating some cake, and watching some old Winnie the Pooh videos! 

Click here for the theme song, and have fun reliving your childhood!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4IOrH_FMIs

(All images from Google) 

Inspiring children to pick up a book and get reading!

By Terry Orr

As a grandparent, there are few things that warm my heart like watching kids playing outdoors or reading books.  That is why today special – International Children’s Book Day and Hans Christian Andersen birthday!

Mothers and others who read aloud while the baby is still in the womb and daily there after are providing a good foundation habit for the child.  Reading with your child helps establish quality and bonding time that will positively impact them throughout their lives.  When the child sees the parent, relative or others who are reading frequently – setting good examples.

Bookjoy! Around the World

We can read, you and I.

See letters become words,

and words become books

we hold in our hands.

We hear whispers

and roaring rivers in the pages,

bears singing

funny tunes to the moon.

We enter spooky gray castles,

And in our hands flowering trees climb

to the clouds. Bold girls fly;

boys fish for sparkling stars.

You and I read, round and round,

Bookjoy around the world.

By Pat Mora

I recommend reading these three web sites providing their Top 100 Children Books:

1. http://www.teachersfirst.com/100books.cfm
2. http://childrensbooksguide.com/top-100
3. http://www.nea.org/grants/13154.htm

The first two provide a brief overview of each book.

In addition to public libraries, there are hundreds of thousand websites that provide free children’s book to read on your computer, table, phone, etc. Here are five links for free online books for children:

1. http://freekidsbooks.org
2. http://www.wegivebooks.org
3. http://en.childrenslibrary.org
4. http://www.readingrockets.org/blog/42561/
5. http://literacylaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/08/20-places-to-find-free-childrens-books.html

Lets all find a good book and share it with our young people and celebrate today.

Celebrating George Washington Birthday

(Google Image)

By Diane Forrest

On Monday we celebrated President's day, a "floating" holiday, since it always happens on the third Monday in February.  This allows all government employees a long weekend, and alot of businesses an opportunity to get some good sales advertised.  Before President's day, we celebrated Lincoln’s birthday, which was February 12th, and Washington's Birthday, which was February 22.  This makes me wonder why we never celebrated the presidents in between those two.  Well to cut down on all that paid time off, the powers that be decided to combine the two, and include all presidents in the President Day holiday.

Today is George Washington's actual birthday, and he was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia.  This is near the site of Mount Vernon where his family home is located, and where he lived til the end of his life and is now buried there.

(Google Image)

There are some states that continue to celebrate his birth and since 1862 there has been a tradition in the United States Senate that George Washington's Farewell Address be read on his birthday. Citizens had asked that this be done in light of the approaching Civil War. The annual tradition continues with the reading of the address on or near Washington's Birthday.

Washington was not only the first president of the country; he is also the one who set the bar.  He did not want to start a monarchy, but have the presidency, and keep a time limit.  He moved the capital from New York to Washington.

Today we remember George Washington, and celebrate his birth by spending a few dollars.

Happy Birthday Elvis

(Google Image)

By Diane Forrest

Seventy Eight years ago the King of Rock and Roll was born in Tupelo, Mississippi.  If you don't know who I'm talking about, it’s Elvis Presley.  A man who captured the world with his voice and shook up all the women with his dance moves.

(Google Image)

As a native of Mississippi, I have always felt a connection to Elvis.  When I was younger I lived in the delta, an hour away from Memphis, where his home was located.  As we traveled to Memphis to do our annual Christmas shopping, we would drive by Graceland and see scores of groupies hanging out around the gates.  When my husband was younger, he recalled a tornado that hit his hometown of McComb Mississippi and Elvis came and performed a concert to raise money to help rebuild.  The newspaper article detailing the concert also contained a picture of his uncle shaking Elvis's hand as the check was presented to the town.

(Google Image)

Several years ago we took a trip to Graceland to tour the home where he lived and died.  Since my husband was wheelchair bound, he was giving special privilege to park in the driveway of Graceland.  He was thrilled to park his car on the same driveway that Elvis used. Even took a picture of the garbage can sitting next to the drive.

(Google Image)

Many people in this area have special memories of Elvis especially the women, many of whom he dated.  A friend of mine served on security detail for him once, and my father was actually in Memphis the day he passed away, and still has the newspaper from that day.

The tales of his generosity are well known through the state, such as the donations and contributions...to the gifts of Cadillac to unsuspecting recipients.  Elvis was loved by many, and this can be seen by the continued success of the sale of his music and visits to his home.

(Google Image)

Today is the day that Elvis was born, so to remember him, listen to some of his songs, or maybe you can find one of his several movies showing on TV.  36 years after his death, he still remains the King of Rock and Roll!

Happy Birthday Walt Disney

Happy Birthday

By Diane Forrest

In the spring of 1994 I took my son to the happiest place on earth.  This was my first real vacation too.  I had been working for a year as a nurse, and was working the night shift.  I had spent months planning this wonderful trip.  Since I was working nights, I didn’t feel safe driving, but figured I could handle a 60 mile trip to the train station.  I just laid my head down for a second, and a few hours later I woke up realizing that I would be late for the train departure.  Luckily, I made it in time, with a few minutes to spare, but I forgot all of my personal care items.

(Google Image) 

We took the train to New Orleans where we boarded a plane to fly to Orlando, Florida.  I was just as excited to see the entrance as my son was.  We were indeed at the happiest place on earth.  6 years later we accompanied my husband on another trip.  This trip was just as exciting as the first one, especially watching the wonder and excitement in his face.  My son was also older, and didn’t remember much from his first trip.

(Google Image) 

These wonderful memories were made possible by Mr. Walt Disney, who had a vision for a place where families could spend time together and forget their troubles for a while.  Disneyland, in Anaheim California, was the first park conceived by Mr. Disney.  His original plans were to be a park built for employees and their children, but the vision grew larger and larger until it reached the place you see today.  At the dedication, which was attended by Ronald Reagan, Walt gave this speech, "To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America ... with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to the entire world."

Walt Disney's name is synonymous with family entertainment both in the movies and cartoons he developed, and his theme parks.

(Google Image) 

Today in 1901, Walt Disney was born.  65 years and 10 days later he passed away leaving the world a better place than how he found it.  If you have ever visited a Disney theme park, or watched a Disney movie, then give a thought today for Mr. Walt Disney for having the visions to create wonderful memories for you too.