COUNTYWIDE : Marines Mark 214th Anniversary

It’s the kind of ceremony that “sends tingles down your spine,” knowing you’re part of a two-centuries-old tradition of defending the United States, remarked one young corporal at Thursday’s 214th birthday celebration for the U.S. Marine Corps.

“It’s really a meaningful ceremony,” Cpl. James E. La Pointe, 21, said after emceeing the morning birthday party. “It’s the epitome of the sharp and squared-up Marine.”

For the 1,000 or so Marines at the El Toro Marine Air Corps Station’s party, there were speeches, music and a six-foot-tall mock birthday cake--inscribed with the Marines’ motto, semper fidelis, or “always faithful.” The cake--part of which was real white cake--was sliced in a ceremony by the base’s two top generals, Brig. Gen. D.V. Schuter and Maj. Gen. Royal Moore.

And as 400 Marines stood in tight military formation, and another 600 Marines, with their family and friends looked on, the oldest and youngest Marines stationed at the base shared a piece of the cake.

Marines worldwide took time out this week for the annual celebration of the founding of the corps in 1775 by the Continental Congress. The actual birthday is today, but in Orange County the ceremony was held Thursday since Veterans Day is being observed Friday.

After the nearly hourlong celebration, La Pointe said, “You come away from the ceremony and feel renewed about your heritage. The hard work takes on a new meaning. We’re dedicated to maintaining America’s readiness; we’re the first ones they call.”

The annual marking of the founding of the corps serves as a reminder of those who went before, La Pointe said. “We look back at the people who set the standards for us,” he said, adding that the Marines’ deep-rooted sense of history was especially noticeable when “Anchors Aweigh,” the Navy song, was played, followed by the Marines’ Hymn.

(The Marines are a separate branch of the armed forces within the U.S. Navy, and about 120 Navy members share El Toro base with the 7,800 Marines there.)

“To have them (Navy personnel) be a part of us reminds us all that we work together,” said Steven E. Savage, 22, a representative of the Headquarters squadron in Thursday’s ceremonial formation.

Savage said he was especially moved by the speech made by Schuter, commanding general of the El Toro station. Schuter had pointed to cuts in funding and manpower available to Marines during the year and said he prided the corps on its ability to meet its challenges without complete resources.

“On a personal level, it felt good that (the extra work) was being recognized. When he said, ‘It’s the people who make the Marine Corps elite,’ that really hit home,” Savage said.

BACKGROUND

The Marine Corps’ first two battalions were established on Nov. 10, 1775, by the Continental Congress. Originally called “soldiers of the sea,” Marines gained an early reputation as sharpshooters under marksman John Paul Jones. Their early compensation was a few dollars a month, potatoes, meat and a jug of moonshine. Today, the Marines are 200,000 strong at bases around the world. More than 11,000 of them are stationed in Orange County--7,888 at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station and 3,800 at the Tustin Marine Corps Helicopter Station. Most are there for three years. The 4,240-acre El Toro Marine Corps Air Station was commissioned March 17, 1943. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which operates from El Toro, shares its birthday with the corps. It was commissioned Nov. 10, 1942. It moved to El Toro in 1955, and now operates from additional bases in Tustin, Yuma, Twentynine Palms and Camp Pendleton. Women Marines, originally called Marinettes and first allowed to join during World War I, now make up 5% of the corps. About 2,000 civilians are employed between the two Orange County bases in various capacities including child care, education and financial administration.