USMC Birthday & Veteran’s Day Cigar Give-away (Closed)
Saturday November 10, 2007 marks the 232nd birthday of the United States Marine Corps, and Sunday November 11, 2007 is Veteran’s Day. To celebrate these days, I am going to give away a 5-pack of EO 601 Oscuro Tronco cigars to two lucky winners. So, to win these cigars you must post a comment in here about veterans (and be within the US; sorry). Whether it’s a shout out to all vets, to say that you served, just to say thanks, etc., make a comment in this post and your name will be entered in the drawing. Entries will be taken until noon Monday, November 12th and winners will be drawn later that evening.
Here is the 2007 Birthday Message from the Commandant of the Marine Corps:10 November 2007
A BIRTHDAY MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS
Since the birth of our Nation, our liberty has been purchased by valiant men and women of deep conviction, great courage, and bold action; the cost has often been in blood and tremendous sacrifice. As America’s sentinels of freedom, United States Maries are counted among the finest legions in the chronicles of war. Since 1775, Marines have marched boldly to the sounds of guns and have fought fiercely and honorably to defeat the scourge of tyranny and terror. We are Marines—that is what we do.
In the words of President John F. Kennedy: “In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger.” Magnificent heroes fought in the wheat fields of Belleau Wood, in the snows of the Chosin, and on the streets of Hue City. Your generation bears this obligation now, and it is borne on mighty and capable shoulders, Just like the Marines at Belleau Wood—we are once again engaged in sustained operations ashore. Just like Belleau Wood—Marines have been given the toughest sector and have prevailed over a resilient and determined enemy—who has made us pay for our gains. Once again, as in any struggle, the road ahead is far from certain, but as Marines, we are not dissuaded by the challenges of war or the tough conditions of a warrior’s life. Indeed, we don’t just accept our destiny—we shape it.
On our 232nd birthday, to every Marine—those still in uniform and those who have served honorable in the past—be proud of who you are and what you do. Know that your citizenship dues have been paid in full; you are part of this Nation’s elite warrior class. Cherish our families who offer marvelous support, abiding resolve, and steadfast patience. Remember those who have served and those who have fallen—their names are chiseled on the roll call of America’s heroes. Those who have carried the battle colors of our Corps have forged our heritage, and today’s generation of leathernecks chart our future. Carry the colors with pride; carry them with honor.
Happy Birthday Marines!
Semper Fidelis,
James T. Conway
General, United States Marine Corps
So, Semper Fidelis and Happy Birthday to my fellow Marines. And happy Veteran’s Day and my thanks to all others who have served and do currently serve. Without you, we couldn’t be who we are today.
No related posts.
Leave a Reply
Follow Me
Recent Comments
Affiliates
Archives
Know Your Rights
Premium Cigars
Links
All written content © 2007-2010 Cigar Command | Powered by Wordpress | 
Wow, my son’s birthday is the same day as the Marines. Here’s to my boy and to the USMC. One I protect, and the other protects me!
Troy T.
Thanks for the contest Ricky!
Veterans day is very special day to me because it’s my birthday and because I’m a vet. I hope all the guys and gals in harms way stay safe and I look forward to being back over there with you. My time is coming very soon.
Sadly, I can not post the picture that goes with this artical.
AWESOME!!! Read below pic before making judgment on “The Finger” gesture and you’ll understand…
SEMPER FI !
Leading the fight is Gunnery Sgt Michael Burghardt, known as “Iron Mike” or just “Gunny”. He is on his third tour in Iraq. He had become a legend in the bomb disposal world after winning the Bronze S tar for disabling 64 IEDs and destroying 1,548 pieces of ordnance during his second tour. Then, on September 19, he got blown up. He had arrived at a chaotic scene after a bomb had killed four USsoldiers. He chose not to wear the bulky bomb protection suit. “You can’t react to any sniper fire and you get tunnel-vision,” he explains. So, protected by just a helmet and = standard-issue flak jacket, he began what bomb disposal officers term “the longest walk”, stepping gingerly into a 5ft deep and 8ft wide crater.
The earth shifted slightly and he saw a Senao base station with a wire leading from it. He cut the wire and used his 7in knife t o probe the ground. “I found a piece of red detonating cord between my legs,” he says. “That’s when I knew I was screwed.”
Realizing he had been sucked into a trap, Sgt Burghardt, 35, yelled at everyone to stay back. At that moment, an insurgent, probably watching through binoculars, pressed a button on his mobile phone to detonate the secondary device below the sergeant’s feet. “A chill went up the back of my neck and then the bomb exploded,” he recalls. “As I was in the air I remember thinking, ‘I don’t believe they got me.’ I was just ticked off they were able to do it. Then I was lying on the road, not able to feel anything from the waist down.”
His colleagues cut off his trousers to see how badly he was hurt. None could believe his legs were still there. “My dad’s a Vietnam vet who’s paralyzed from the waist down,” says Sgt Burghardt. “I was lying there thinking I didn’t want to be in a wheelchair next to my dad and for him to see me like that. They started to cut away my pants and I felt a real sharp pain and blood trickling down. Then I wiggled my toes and I thought, ‘Good, I’m in business.’ “As a stretcher was brought over, adrenaline and anger kicked in. “I decided to walk to the helicopter. I wasn’t going to let my team-mates see me being carried away on a stretcher.” He stood and gave the insurgents who had blown him up a one-fingered salute. “I flipped them one. It was like, ‘OK, I lost that round but I’ll be back next week’.”
Copies of a photograph depicting his defiance, taken by Jeff Bundy for the Omaha World-Herald, adorn the walls of homes across America and that of Col John Gronski, the brigade commander in Ramadi, who has hailed the image as an exemplar of the warrior spirit. Sgt Burghardt’s injuries – burns and wounds to his legs and buttocks – kept him off duty for nearly a month and could have earned him a ticket home. But, like his father – who was awarded a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts for being wounded in action inVietnam – he stayed in Ramadi to engage in the battle against insurgents who are forever coming up with more ingenious ways of killing Americans.
Thank Ricky for the awesome contest and taking time to remember those who have served and continue to serve to protect and defend our freedoms..
Veterans day has always been special to me. Both my grandfathers served in WWII and one was a war hero and Silver Star recipient. Unfortunately he never shared any war stories with the family and I don’t know anything about the events that earned him that award, other than the tragic side of it in that he lost several friends during whatever event earned him the star. More recently I have been very proud of my brother in law who has served a year in Afghanistan where he earned a Bronze Star and he just got back home after 15 months in Iraq training Iraqi soldiers how to plan and run Counter Insurgency Operations. I know first hand the sacrifices he has made to serve this country and I am proud to call him my brother. Being so close to a soldier, especially one that has been on the front lines of two wars has really driven home how special our armed services men and women really are, and how grateful we should be not only for their sacrifices, but the sacrifices of their families as well. I hope everyone has a safe and happy Veterans Day.
-Matt
I would like to thank all veterans and all serving today. I would also like to wish my fellow Marines a happy Birthday. Paul
thanks for remembering those that guard our freedoms and why of life……thanks to all Vets, past and present. if you love your freedom then thank a Vet
Thanks to all vets who have served and soldiers who are serving now. The sacrifices you’ve made for our country have given us the freedom we enjoy, and we don’t take that for granted.
I haven’t served myself but many of my friends are currently serving in Irac and Afganistan. Each night I pray for their safe return and thank them for all the sacrifices they make every day to protect and defend this great country.
Way to go Ricky! I have several friends in the MIddle East and often get pics and messages from them. It’s very humbling to know we all grew up together and they are half a world away protecting the world’s freedoms. Thanks to all our current and retired vets for all they do.
I just wanted to give a shout out to all the vets out there on the cigar forums. We appreciate what you do and what you’ve done for our country. My grandfather is a vet, some of my closest friends are joining the forces. It makes me proud to know then.
SIEMPER ALERTOS – SIEMPER PREPARADOS!
Thanks for the contest.
I have 2 brothers that are Vet’s. Both were a year apart and only one was in country (Viet Nam) the other was stationed in Korea at the time of the Viet Nam war. My oldest brother was in the 82nd. Airborne and had his fill of enemy fire to say the least. I prayed every day for his safe return and was excited as a young man to see him home safe and sound. He was wounded in action and received the Purple Heart. When he arrived home he was not the same person that left but we talked allot and soon he was getting the treatment he needed. He now is the president for the VVA #48 and travels around the country to help other Vet’s deal with post war stress. He lives and breaths this job that he does not get paid, other than the satisfaction helping other brother & sister’s of the war. Both of my brother’s have been very involved in the help of other’s affected by war.
I see all ages of war vet’s when they enter our doors where I work Nauticus the Maritime Center, to visit the USS Wisconsin. I talk to some of the ole timers and some of the stories I hear are not only bad ones but the good ones that make each and everyone a hero in my books. May God Bless all our service men and women for what they sacrifice day in & out.
Paul
God bless all those who have given of themselves to ensure our freedom. It’s a tuff and often thankless job. Semper Fi!
Thank you for publishing the Birthday message. Too bad that we have to depend on blogs for the truth and the Message takes up too much space in our daily newspapers. Semper Fi!