Semper Fi

The King and I (ah, I have visions of Deborah Kerr in that gorgeously huge gold dress waltzing around with Yul Brenner...sorry, I digress) had the honor last weekend of celebrating the 233rd birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps with the detachment from Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. Dear hubby hires many of the Marines from that garrison for seasonal work, which allows them not only to get off the base for a little while, but to earn the funds needed to throw their annual birthday bash. (Don't get me started on a rant about how underpaid our armed forces are - heaven forbid we appropriately value the fact that they lay their lives on the line for us to take our freedom for granted. Instead we apparently like to demonize them for doing their jobs and insult their intelligence. See? Mini-rant. Couldn't help myself - sorry.)

Anywhoo, they were kind enough this year to invite us to join in their celebration at Tan-Tar-A - and what an absolute honor it was for us. Our camera went on the fritz during the event, so I unfortunately don't have any photos of the beautiful and poignant birthday ceremony, the cutting of the cake with the sword of guest of honor Brigadier General John A. Toolan Jr., or the stunning dress uniforms worn with such discipline and dignity by the Marines.

I will say I left the event more humbled than ever at the courage, intelligence and strength of our military. Those men and women are tough and disciplined, but also among the most polite people I've been around in many, many years, especially at an event where liquor was freely flowing (those guys can hold their hooch, for sure). You could see in their eyes and their straight backs the pride they have in the Marines in general and in their service in particular. They understand the long and storied history of the U.S. Marines, and you could tell they were eager to add their individual heroism to that prestigious history.

I also left feeling secure, much safer than I felt during a week of "historic change" that's undefined and - once you get past the lofty platitudes and really think about it - vague enough to be unnerving. A majority of Americans may want change, but there's at least one thing we definitely don't need to change, and that's the pride of our military men and women in their service to our country. They should be proud of what they do, and we should be proud of them for doing it.

So thank you to all the Marines at Ft. Leonard Wood for allowing us to be part of such an important event, and thank you - thanks to all in and retired from the military - for taking precious time away from your family so that my family is safe and free. Semper fi, indeed.