Sgt Grit is a place where Marines can come and meet other Marines, share tattoos and stories, keep up with Marine Corps news, or shop for USMC gear.
This famous name was coined by Captain William Driver, a shipmaster of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1831. As he was leaving on one of his many voyages aboard the brig Charles Doggett-and this one would climax with the rescue of the mutineers of the Bounty-some friends presented him with a beautiful flag of twenty four stars. As the banner opened to the ocean breeze for the first time, he exclaimed “Old Glory!”
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.(June 1, 2001) — More than 1,000 men, women, and children gathered under warm, sunny skies at Quantico National Cemetery Monday to pay homage to the men and women who have given their lives for their country.
MGen. Clifford L. Stanley, Commanding General, MCB Quantico, represented the base. Medal of Honor recipient and retired Marine Col. H.C. “Barney” Barnum Jr., President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, was the guest of honor.
In mid-June, 1862, the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry, commanded by the famous Confederate raider, John Hunt Morgan, had an unusual visitor.
Union Army Major W. A. Coffey arrived in a carriage to place himself in captivity. Seldom had a man gone to such lengths to surrender. Coffey had been originally captured in May, when Morgan’s men took a train behind Union lines. He emerged from the train with pistols blazing, but was forced to surrender when his ammunition ran out.
1. Straighten out the flag to full length and fold lengthwise once.
2. Fold it lengthwise a second time to meet the open edge, making sure that the union of stars on the blue field remains outward in full view. (A large flag may have to be folded lengthwise a third time.)
Have you ever wondered why the flag of the United States of America is folded 13 times when it is lowered or when it is folded and handed to the widow at the burial of a veteran? Here is the meaning of each of those folds and what it means to you.
The ‘first fold’ of our flag is a symbol of life.
The flag should be displayed on all days when the weather permits, especially on legal holidays or other special occasions. It is customary to display the flag from sunrise to sunset on buildings or on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, on special occasions it may be displayed at night, preferably lighted. In several places the flag flies day and night; among these are the Capitol in Washington, D.C., and the Fort McHenry National Monument in Baltimore, which was the inspiration for “The Star Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key.
As Adopted by the National Flag Conference, Washington, D.C., June 14-15, 1923, and Revised and Endorsed by the Second National Flag Conference, Washington, D.C., May 15, 1924. Revised and adopted at P.L. 623, 77th Congress, Second Session, June 22, 1942; as Amended by P.L. 829, 77th Congress, Second Session, December 22, 1942; P.L. 107 83rd Congress, 1st Session, July 9, 1953; P.L. 396, 83rd Congress, Second Session, June 14, 1954; P.L. 363, 90th Congress, Second Session, June 28, 1968; P.L. 344, 94th Congress, Second Session, July 7, 1976; P.L. 322, 103rd Congress, Second Session, September 13, 1994; P.L. 225, 105th Congress, Second Session, August 12, 1998; and P.L. 80, 106th Congress, First Session, October 25, 1999.
(Reprinted with permission of Military magazine, 2122 28th St., Sacramento, CA 95818. A sample copy of Military may be obtained by writing to the above address).
As the turn of the century approaches, the ranks of those who once wore a uniform and preserved our freedom grows ever thinner. Recent wars and military actions lasted only a few days and the numbers of troops involved were small compared to the millions who served in World War II, Korea, Viet-Nam and the Cold War. It doesn’t take an insurance actuary to understand that with today’s ever diminishing volunteer force veterans are becoming a vanishing breed.
THIS IS MY RIFLE. There are many like it but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I master my life. My rifle, without me is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than any enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will….
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.