| Show pig 4 4 f 0 1 k I 1 Z 4 1 jr tz T 41 41 k 1 A before the liberty bell rang ou oil t the tidings of american dence or old ironsides sailed the seas the first two battalions 0 f marines were nere authorized by the continental congress on november 10 1775 above is shown the liberty bell flanked left and ri by a marine of revolutionary days and a modern modem soldier 0 f the sea below U S F p brigate constitution old ironsides older than the declaration of independence the U S marine corps will round out years of stirring history on november 10 in the year 1775 nearly eight months before the famous document was signed the first american marines were authorized by an act of the continental congress men alen from every state every state of the union has contributed its sons to the corps enrolled in its ranks are men from the western prairie lands from the thickly populated centers in the east from the gulf to the great lakes and from I 1 coast to coast the marines enroll their forces from all over the united states for they belong to the nation on their official birthday members of the corps will pause to glimpse over the long long iong trail of patriotic service that stretches b back ack through the years the trail harks back to the days of powdered wigs and buckled shoes of wooden ships and iron men of flintlocks flint locks and fighting tops it winds its way through more than a century and a half of exploits that have carried the soldiers from the halls of montezuma to the shores of tripoli picture a little band of four or five patriots marching through the streets of philadelphia wa way y back in 1775 there is the shrill note of a fife and the beat of a drum their leader pauses at frequent intervals to address the crowd and the little band moves on members of the group are gaudily arrayed in green coats faced with red they are wearing glistening white waistcoats and their buff colored trousers disappear in into gaiters reaching above the knees crossed white belts and three cornered bats complete the uniform which marked the fore runners of the modern U S marines benjamin franklin an eyewitness of the scene was impressed with the odd device borne on their drums it showed a rattlesnake prepared to strike and the words dont tread on me slowly the little band made it its way to the old tun tavern or on the deleware waterfront a rallying point for patriots in the days of the revolution and the first rendezvous of the sea soldiers here the able bodied were given an opportunity to embark on a career of adventure with the marines adventure came quickly early in february 1776 the newly or marine corps started on its first expedition approximately marines were with the naval force which occupied the ten sloops that sailed down the deleware and eventually arrived at new providence in the bahamas they raided the fortress there and in a few hours the fleet sailed northward bearing as trophies cannon and a great supply 01 of sorely needed munitions of war the stirring episode in the west indies was the forerunner of many others in which the marines won glory in the early days of the republic while clashing with the enemy on land and sea however the corps virtually disappeared in the years immediately following the alie revolution and was not permanently reorganized until july 1798 marines were aboard old ironsides during the war with tripoli early in the irth century I 1 and later fought gallantly aboard the same vessel in m the war of 1812 they were in the desperate fight with tho the british frigate guerriere in august of that year and saw lively action during the later engagements of the war besides taking a heroic part in in the mexican civil and spanish wars they fought pirates in the caribbean stalked indians in the everglades of florida stormed the barrier forts in korea and battled with boxers in china they have come to grips with revolutionists in haiti and today many of them are serving in china or in the far outposts of the pacific everybody has heard of their valor in the world war kept pace with times step by step the marines have kept pace with the progress of the times witnessing the evolution from the old wooden frigates and cumbersome weapons of revolutionary times to the flo floating a ting mass mas s of steel and machinery equipped with huge guns which now guard our shores against possible invaders the sea soldier of 1775 would open his eyes in amazement at the motor transportation radio equipment airplanes anti and gas masks with which the present day soldiers of the sea are provided it seems strange indeed to the modem marine when he recalls the time when his predecessors trail ed by stage coach or frigate when the musket and bayonet were vir virtually their only weapons and when bully beef hardtack and beans were the daily menu on their birthday the marines will attempt to bridge the span of years that i leaches caches far back into the beginning of the nation they will sing their hymn that proclaims in many a strife weve fought for life and never lost our nerve 11 once more they will reaffirm their allegiance to 6 flag and country and their motto semper fidelis which means always faithful |
