I think on this 10 November, the occasion of the 238st Birthday of our beloved Corps, possibly I am overdoing it a bit… nah, our birthday comes only once a year. So celebrate, yes celebrate, not celibate.
The chap in the first attached photo is me… "richard" taken two days ago.
The second photo is Graduation Day Plt. 344, "Pvt. Richard" on the left, and on the right is John, remember he was from Erie, PA.
Love! No greater love! Today it is worth remembering love… love of our families, our Corps, our country.
On the occasion marking the 203rd Birthday of the US Marine Corps, 1978, onboard Camp Lejeune, N.C. and in the presence of several thousand Marines and their Ladies, General Louis H. Wilson, then Commandant of the Marine Corps, arose to deliver his long awaited address to the troops.
He approached the dais, nodded to the Commanding Generals of the Base, FSSG and the Division. He then proceeded to explain to the captive masses that he would be short on words that night.
Then he turned to his bride, took a glass, and amid absolute DEAD SILENCE, offered this Toast and promptly SAT DOWN!
"LOVE"
"The wonderful love of a beautiful maid,
The love of a staunch, true man,
The love of a baby, unafraid,
Have existed since time began.
But the greatest of loves,
The quintessence of loves,
Even greater than that of a mother,
Is the tender, passionate, infinite love,
of one drunken Marine for another."
The WHOOPIN' and HOLLERIN' went on for a good 10 minutes!
This has to be the greatest toast ever offered to our fellow Marines, our Corps, and to love!
Happy Birthday Marines…
Richard Brugger
Sgt. USMC