Happy 242nd birthday, U.S. Marine Corps!
Teamwork, spirit critical to Marines’ success
On Wednesday, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma celebrated the 242nd anniversary of the Corps’ founding with a cake-cutting ceremony and uniform pageant.
The United States Marine Corps was established on Nov. 10, 1775, when the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution stating that “two battalions of Marines be raised.”
And since that moment, the Marines have valiantly defended and protected our nation both at home and abroad.
Gen. Robert B. Neller, commandant of the Marine Corps, noted in his annual birthday message the value of the Marines’ spirit and the importance of being a cohesive team.
It’s a message that carries weight in a time when our nation can feel disjointed.
“We can and will prevail as we always have, in any clime and place. But we must prevail together, united by the unyielding spirit in each of us that makes our Corps unique — that willingness to put our Corps and fellow Marines ahead of ourselves. Victory in battle comes through the integrated efforts of many — teamwork,” Neller said.
Teamwork is the foundation upon which the Marine Corps succeeds, as history and experience have proven time and again.
That spirit and bravery has carried Marines to victory over and over, from the battle at Fort Nassau against the British in 1776 to the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945 to Operation Desert Storm in 1991, to the successes of today.
The Marines are trained to fight in the air, on the ground and at sea, and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma plays a vital role in that training.
In fact, MCAS Yuma has access to approximately 1 million acres of bombing and aviation training ranges. Coupled with our amazing weather, MCAS Yuma supports 80 percent of the Marine Corps’ air to ground aviation training.
The Marines have a rich history, and in Yuma especially, their service is appreciated. Happy birthday, and Semper fidelis!
DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS OR NOT?
The article “Project Drive Safe,” published Nov. 4 in the Yuma Sun, was a very timely one. It had some good points for both drivers and pedestrians to keep our streets safe and accident free. I’ve noticed a trouble spot on Avenue A between 19th Street and 24th Street where young kids proceed to walk across the street with their headsets on listening to music, and they have little or no awareness of what is going on around them. And motorists have to yield for them even though they are walking in the middle of the street. In one situation, the kid appeared to be adjusting his headset in the middle of the street. Please use some common sense and heed some basic safety tips to keep our streets accident free. It’s a shared responsibility.
Veteran’s Day is coming this weekend. Let us say thanks to our men and women of our current and past military. Our military demonstrated their patriotism by giving years of their lives (many their actual lives). So I ask you to demonstrate your patriotism this weekend by boycotting the NFL games and their sponsors. I urge you to give up some of your pleasures like our military has done. I urge you to not watch or go to an NFL game this Veteran’s Day weekend. Do this as a tribute to our military who have respect for our flag and our national anthem. The NFL needs to realize they are not our heroes.
Young immigrants who are here illegally — don’t blame us Americans for what your parents did to you. They should of did things right, a crime is a crime. I’m sure some of you are great people.
Our system is a drama case. It enables not only the Mexicans but our people too. There are too many free public funds the ills take advantage of that should be a crime.
Even some of our people don’t deserve charity or public funds.
I am one of the millions of Americans who have had the opportunity to serve my country in the military. While I may not always approve of some decisions and policies made by our leaders, and while I agree that our country has plenty of room to improve with regard to racial issues and equality, I still believe that our country is the best there is.
I believe that citizens of America do have the right to protest. We have the right to vote and to apply pressure on the people who can make changes by having rallies and marches and letters to our congressman and to editors. But disrespecting our country’s flag and our national anthem, in my opinion, is unacceptable. Hundreds of thousands of people have given their lives so we can be free. Our country is still a work in progress, but we need to stand united behind our country’s flag.
Protests like some of the NFL players are currently staging are necessary, but I believe their choice of venues is misguided. Because changes aren’t coming quickly enough, we can’t allow frustration to cause us to disrespect our flag and our national anthem.
I have been a fan of the NFL since its inception, but I can no longer support an organization whose members don’t support our flag and our national anthem.
I will no longer be watching NFL games and hope that other fans will join me in this endeavor.