Marines mark corps' 227th birthday in style

They've crawled on their elbows and knees through sand, mud and who knows what else. They've hunkered in fox holes.

Ask any one of them and they'll tell you they're the grittiest of all soldiers.

But those down-and-dirty Marines have a softer side too.

On Saturday night, the Marine Corps League Cpl. Mason O. Yarbrough Detachment No. 1081 put on a gala to celebrate the corps' 227th birthday.

The Cape Girardeau event -- similar festivities take place all over the nation -- entertained more than 200 people, more than twice as many as last year. But not all of them were Marines.

This was the first local Marine celebration where the public was invited. And all 200-plus were certainly treated to a fancy affair.

White roses decorated candle-lit tables. Light jazz music played in the background. Soft light glittered through an ice sculpture of the Marines' symbol: the eagle, globe and anchor.

The Marines were decked out in their formal blues, the ladies dressed in formal gowns.

"We don't do anything small," said Ronald MacCubbin, league commandant. "This was the best we've ever had, but not the best we'll ever have. There was a lot more pomp and circumstance."

Keeping with a tradition, the youngest and oldest Marines were honored and among the first to be served with cake. The cake was ushered out on a cart under raised swords.

Al Hoskin, 84, of Cape Girardeau was the oldest Marine in attendance. He served three years, including two overseas.

"Once a Marine, always a Marine," Hoskin said.

On the other end of the scale, Andrew Jackson, 19, from Jackson, got out of basic training July 19 and has been a Marine only nine months.

He said the deep tradition of the Marines was instilled in him from the beginning of basic training and it was only strengthened Saturday night.

"The tradition makes me more proud to be a part of the Marine Corps," he said. "People see the uniform and know how you are and what branch you're in."

The guest speaker Saturday night was Lt. Gen. Charles Pitman.

Pitman served for 38 years. His last assignment was as deputy chief of staff for aviation at the Marine Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Pitman spoke about the tradition of the Marine Corps and the pride that goes along with being a Marine. He also bragged on today's Marines.

"They have the same spirit we had," he said. "Only now, they're much better trained and much better equipped than we were. They're doing a hell of a job for us."

bmiller@semissourian.com

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