Another day in history.

213 years ago today congress passed the founding of the USMC. Prior to this there were various times when Marine units were raised and trained.
Thank you one and all for your service.

The Marines are great force for good in the world. In this country many Marines favor the individual RKBA as the founders did.

I'd like to ask any Marines what their opinion is of the RKBA.

A typical Marine is of higher caliber than a comparable member of any other service.

...but I'd rather not get involved in a rivalry between branches of the service.

Would you know how your brother feels about the right to keep and bear arms?

Our dad, a veteran of World War II and experienced rifle instructor, taught us how to safely handle and use firearms when we were kids. I was 10, my brother was six.

He's taught his two children how to shoot. My nephew recently turned 18 and moved out to go to college. He bought a rifle, but keeps it at his parents' home because firearms aren't allowed on campus.

And thanks again.

Most think RKBA means Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

To current and former Marines RKBA means Responsibility to Keep and Bear Arms.

The oath we took to protect and defend never ends.

Semper Fi,

I know. :) Personally, my family and I are glad that all Marines view their oath as eternal.

Btw, if you, a friend and/or family member are Marines, tell them I said thanks.

My intent was to stress to the uninformed that once a Marine, always a Marine.

Semper Fi,

They were called Continental Marines at the time. I once knew a Marine who celebrated Nov 10 as his personal birthday, although it was really a different day.

The force we have today, now known as the United States Marine Corps, has seen service and been raised prior the 11 July 1798 date upon which the current institution was raised again by an act of Congress.

From wikipedia:


I look at the 11 July date as another milestone analogous to how I look at the passage of the Constitution. Without a doubt US Marines were first raised as a force on 10 November. So, AFAIC on 11 July Congress recognized and funded the USMC. :)

Don't get me wrong: I have a lot of respect for the USMC, and in particular the organization's ability to anticipate developments in warfare and come up with answers before the pertinent questions have even been asked within the Beltway. Hence the USMC's pioneering of amphibious warfare, civil action programs in counter-insurgency, adoption and refinement of maneuver warfare doctrine, all things which the U.S. Army has subsequently had to learn from the Marines. Marines, frankly, tend to be a damn sight smarter than almost anyone gives them credit for. And I say that (only slightly grudgingly) as an army infantryman.

But because of my personal background--I did my military service in DutchBat's parent brigade, and worked at the UN war crimes tribunal for over three years--July 11th to me is the date the Srebrenica "Safe Area" fell and the slaughter began.

There are few dates that lack both good and bad memories for most of us.
Some scholars (not all the same ones) but a few show that the following events may coincide:

The Battle of Thermopylae
The first appearance of the astronomical event now known as the Star of Bethlehem
The Battle of Sterling Bridge
Ground Breaking for Pentagon construction
WTC/Pentagon attacks

John Henry Pruitt embodied the spirit found everywhere in the Marine Corps. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Due to the last event in the above list, Dana Falkenberg's unidentifiable remains and a few others working at the Pentagon are now buried not far from Corporal Pruitt. To my knowledge she is the youngest person buried there. Born 21 July 1998, died 11 September 2001.

Freedom isn't free.

political views are about as varied as any group this size. That said most are ardent supporters and defenders of the Constitution and BoR. My son, who is one of the 100k, is a believer in RKBA and is also pretty liberal both socially and fiscally.

Please thank him for me and my family.