Here is how you can help; spread the word at work, to your friends, twitter, Facebook, and copy/paste the following link ( http://givebig.s3.amazonaws.com/index.html”>clicking here to donate ). The funds raised for us will go toward our housing program. We hope to have your continued support. This program ends Dec. 15 at 7:00 p.m. There will be a follow –up posting giving you the results of our effort. Thank you for you continued support!

MCB QUANTICO, Va. — The U.S. Marine Corps begins preparations for its ‘‘birthday party” every summer. Activities become more feverish as the fall hues arrive. By early November, every Marine is either rehearsing his role in the ‘‘party” or pressing, polishing and spit-shining in order to appear at his or her best for the Birthday Ball. This has not always been the case, however. In fact, Marines have not always celebrated their founding on Nov. 10.

Formal commemoration of the birthday of the Marine Corps began on Nov. 10,1921. That particular date was chosen because on that day the Second Continental Congress resolved in 1775 to raise two battalions of Continental Marines.

Until 1921 the birthday of the Corps had been celebrated on another date. An unidentified newspaper clipping from 1918 refers to the celebration of the 120th birthday of the Marine Corps on July 11 ‘‘as usual with no fuss.” It is doubtful that there was any real celebration at all. Further inspection of documents and publications prior to 1921 shows no evidence of ceremonies, pageants, or parties. The July date was commemorated between 1798 and 1921 as the birthday of the Corps. During the Revolution, Marines had fought on land and sea, but at the close of the Revolution the Marine Corps and the Navy were all but disbanded. On July 11, 1798, President John Adams approved a bill that recreated the Corps, thereby providing the rationale for this day being commemorated as the birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps.

On Oct. 21, 1921, Maj Edwin McClellan, officer-in-charge, Historical Section, Headquarters Marine Corps, sent a memorandum to Major General Commandant John A. Lejeune suggesting that the original birthday on Nov. 10, 1775 be declared a Marine Corps holiday to be celebrated throughout the Corps. Maj McClellan further suggested that a dinner be held in Washington D.C., to commemorate the event. Guests would include prominent men from the Marine Corps, Army, Navy, and descendants of the Revolution.

Accordingly, on Nov. 1, 1921, Lejeune issued Marine Corps Order No. 47, Series 1921. The order summarized the history, mission, and tradition of the Corps, and directed that it be read to every command on Nov. 10 each subsequent year in honor of the birthday of the Marine Corps. This order has been duly carried out.

Some commands expanded the celebration during the next few years. In 1923 at Fort Mifflin, Pa., the celebration of the Marine Corps’ 148th birthday took the form of a dance in the barracks that evening. Marines at the Navy Yard, Norfolk, staged a sham battle on the parade ground in commemoration of the birthday. The battle lasted about 20 minutes, and was witnessed by Portsmouth and Norfolk citizens. At Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the birthday was celebrated on the 12th, since a special liberty to Santiago had been arranged on the 10th. The morning activities included field and water sports and a shooting match. In the afternoon the Marines won a baseball game,9-8, over a Cuban team. In the evening, members of the command put on a variety show followed by four boxing bouts.

The first so-called ‘‘Birthday Ball,” such as suggested by Maj McClellan, was probably held in 1925 in Philadelphia. No records have been located of one prior to 1925. Guests included the secretaries of War and Navy, Lejeune, famous statesmen, soldiers and sailors. The principle event was the unveiling of a tablet on the site of Tun Tavern. The tablet was a gift from the Thomas Roberts Reath Post, American Legion, whose membership was composed exclusively of Marines. The celebration was held in conjunction with the annual convention of the Marine Corps League. A parade included Marines, Regular Army, and Navy detachments, National Guard, and other military organizations. The evening banquet was held at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel and a ball followed at the Bellevue-Stratford.

It is not possible to determine precisely when the first cake ceremony was held, but there is evidence of a ceremony being held at Quantico in 1935.

Also on record was one held at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., in 1937 where Commandant Maj. Gen. Thomas Holcomb presided at an open house for Marine Corps officers. Ceremonies included the cutting of a huge cake designed after the famous Tun Tavern in Philadelphia.

From 1937, observances of the Marine Corps Birthday appeared to develop spontaneously throughout the Corps as if they had a life of their own. The celebrations were publicized through every media. Newsreels, motion pictures, and displays were prepared to summarize the history of the Corps. In 1943, standard blank Marine Corps scrap books were forwarded to all districts to be filled with 168th anniversary clippings, scripts, pictures, programs, and other memorabilia, and returned to Headquarters. Unfortunately none of these scrapbooks remain in official files.

In 1951, a formal Birthday Ball Pageant was held at Headquarters Marine Corps. Similar to the pageant today, the script described the Marines’ period uniforms and the cake ceremony. Although this is the first substantive record of a pageant, Leatherneck magazine of Nov. 10, 1925 pictures Marines at a pageant in Salt Lake City, Utah, which had taken place ‘‘several years ago.”

On Oct. 28, 1952, the Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr., directed that the celebration of the Marine Corps Birthday be formalized throughout the Corps, and provided an outline for the cake ceremony, as well as other formal observances. This outline was included in the Marine Corps Drill Manual, approved Jan. 26, 1956.

Like the Corps itself, the Birthday Ball developed from simple origins to become the polished, professional function that all Marines commemorate on Nov. 10 around the world.

Information copied from: http://www.quantico.usmc.mil/Sentry/storyview.aspx?SID=4626       Story submitted the Marine Corp History Branch on 10/21/10

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7385288n&tag=contentMain;contentBody

In fact, a VMRF researcher, Ariel Lang, Ph.D., MPH, is interested in increasing the number of evidence based treatments that are available and ultimately understanding which types of treatment are most effective for which patients.  This knowledge will help clinicians tailor treatment for patients and improve outcomes.  “Research has shown that giving people an opportunity to express their preferences eliminates barriers to treatment and increases efficacy,” says Dr. Lang.  She currently holds VMRF-administered grants to study Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a treatment that combines mindfulness and behavioral principles to help individuals pursue the things they value. In another study, she is looking into whether PTSD treatment can be more effective when it is adapted for combat trauma and takes into account the unique culture and duties of each military branch.

Sonya Norman, Ph.D., program director of the VA San Diego OEF/OIF PTSD Clinic, is similarly involved in many different studies, including one that specifically focuses on guilt in relation to PTSD.  “There is a high degree of feelings of guilt in PTSD patients: guilt over something they witnessed, something they couldn’t stop, or something that they themselves did.  They have so much guilt over the incident that they can never stop thinking about it, but they also try to block it out,” says Dr. Norman.  “As a result, they are never able to break it down, examine it rationally, and find a way to go on.  Even when they know that they are suffering, they are afraid to let it go, because their guilt makes them feel as if they deserve to suffer, and the guilt would be worse if they were to let it go.  We are excited about a pilot study, which we hope to get funded through VMRF, in which we will set out to demonstrate that these patients can release these feelings of guilt after only 4-5 weeks of therapy.”

Both Drs. Lang and Norman recently appeared on Veterans Health Now: Honoring Service with Science, the Veterans Medical Research Foundation-hosted radio program featured on wsRadio.  Their interviews can be accessed as podcasts on the VMRF website at http://www.vmrf.org/podcasts.html

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The Handlery Hotel is honoring Wounded Warrior Homes as the recipient of this fundraising event. A Night Under the Stars, A Mission Valley Craft Beer and Food Event will be an amazing night filled with local craft beers, and amazing creating by some of San Diego’s top executive chefs!

If you like beer…you need to be here

If you like amazing food…you need to be here

If you like amazing food and beer you MUST be here!

Friday November 4, 2011

6-9 pm

Handlery Hotel & Resort
950 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, CA 92108

For more information about the event call Mia Roseberry @ 760.483.3553  or email mia@woundedwarriorhomes.org

November 12, 2011

Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291

Reception at 6:00 PM – Readings at 7:00 PM.

Join us for readings by veterans of foreign conflict with John Rixey Moore, Jim Miller, Michael Sadler, James Mathers, participants of the West Los Angeles Veterans Hospital Creative Writing Workshop, and other distinguished guests.

This tribute to veterans is inspired by the late poet, graphic artist and activist Lee Mihn Sloca. Lee’s friends and fellow poets– Leilani Squire, Ric Gentry, Gedda Ilves David Obsusin, Lauren Segal–will carry on this event in his memory. Moderated by Leilani Squire.

Chase Weston, Wounded Warrior Homes Board Member will be speaking.

Proceeds from donations at the door will be divided to Wounded Warrior Homes that serves medically discharged veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with affordable housing and hands-on resources and The Soldiers Project which provides free, confidential psychological services by licensed mental health professionals for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families.

Suggested Donation $10

Master, Visa and Discover accepted

For more information about the event call Mia Roseberry @ 760.483.3553 or email mia@woundedwarriorhomes.org

We are working on the date or dates for next year already! I am setting a personal goal of 200 riders next year! THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!! Especially CASSIDY MCFARLAND for choosing Wounded Warrior Homes as the charity for this amazing event!

Check back soon….we will be posting pictures by the end of the week!

Where were you and how has your life changed today? What are you doing, that you would not have been doing today?

Please join the discussion and leave a comment….