A Birthday Bash

Hello everyone,
It's a bright beautiful morning and a perfect day for a Birthday Party. Who's birthday is it ? Well it's not mine or Genghis's and its not Sir Knight's; but he is one of the reasons we celebrate it every year. Ok, I won't leave you in suspense any longer. Today, November 10th, is the birthday of the United States Marine Corps.

My Little Cherished Teddie above as well as the Marine pin are my everyday reminders of these brave men and the brotherhood they share with their fellow Marines. My Dad was a member of that brotherhood, having served his country with them during WWII as well as Korea; and my Dear Sir Knight also is a part of this brotherhood having served his country with them in Vietnam.
It has been a privilege and an honor to know both these men.

This is my Dad all dressed up and standing proud in His Dress Blues.

This is my Dad and his favorite girl doing the town in Chicago, while he was stationed at Navy Pier. Yep, when the war was over he came back and married her and she is of course my mother.
The Little Bear and Mug are Sir Knights and my souvenirs from when we attended the Marine Corps Ball (Birthday Party), a week after we got married.

No Pictures of Sir Knight in Uniform you ask? Well no, unfortunately there aren't any. You see with Veitnam being such an unpopular war - and all - there was no hero's welcome for the returning warriors back then. People didn't send out nice care packages with golf games or all kinds of Christmas cards and stuff to our boys overseas - the only boxes I remember being collected for them was for soap, (SOS - send over soap) pretty exciting stuff, huh. The war was unpopular, so they took it out on the boys who were just doing their duty to God and Country. Heck the Veterans of Foreign wars even refused to let them join when they got home - because Vietnam wasn't a true war.

The draft dodgers got more sympathy from the American people than our returning soldier. - go figure

Sir Knight disposed of all his pictures and momentos in the circular file, moved on with his life, and tried to forget about the whole mess.


Our wish to all the Marines, past and present, who uphold the finest traditions of the Corps... Happy Birthday.

Hugs,
Penny