THE HERITAGE OF THE CORPS

washington DC our nation's capital a city of striking buildings and beautiful memorials imposing structures all and each with a character of its own history is made here hour by hour and day by day and certainly no small part of that history belongs to these buildings and all they represent for this is the home of the United States Marine Corps the marine barracks at eight and I President Thomas Jefferson and william ward burrows the second Commandant of the Marine Corps selected the site when the Marines established their first military garrison in Washington allotted only twenty thousand dollars to purchase land and pay for construction they nevertheless built of barracks to house five hundred officers and men as well as a residence for the Commandant of the court this building has been the official residence for all but the first two common dance of the core common down to have led the core in defense of freedom for almost two centuries with the building's imposing a parade ground the Marine Barracks compound is a quadrangle and within its confines we find reminders of the glorious past as well as promises of the future ahead here for example our two field pieces taken in battle with the Chinese in the tartar city of Pekin and here is a ship's Bell from the destroyer USS forest which saw action in World War two during the Okinawa invasion this is Center house for United States Marines have entertained visiting military and diplomatic leaders for more than a century and a half here the tradition of exchanging gifts with visiting military organizations continues and center house is filled with mementos from other fighting units that have shared hardships with the Marine Corps the world over this parade round of the Quadrangle has echoed to the sounds of stirring music and marching feet since 1801 the days of the old breed this is the old breed they fought on foreign shores as well as on our own serving always with distinction and valor they served on frigates during the French naval wars at tripoli at the storming of support opec in the Indian Wars and at the first landings made in Korea back in eighteen seventy four came the twentieth century and these men continued to add luster to the cores brilliant history building an illustrious heritage as the old breed gradually became the new and so did the names of chateau-thierry belleau wood and the Argonne forest we now must add Guadalcanal Tarawa hi Pam iwo jima all parts of a great tradition another tradition shared by the men of the core is the evening parade held each friday night at the marine barracks at eighth and I during the spring and summer months that's chesty the second the marine barracks mascot being led down Center walk to mark the beginning of the evening parade ceremony you're watching the world famous marine band which was created by act of Congress in 1798 and thus became the first military musical organization in the United States for the time of president john adams first official reception for which it provided music the Marine Band has always been known as the president's own among many famous names associated with the band that of John Philip Sousa will be long remembered and listing in the core at the age of 13 it was then possible suso became leader of the band in 1880 and held that position for 12 years this is the internationally famous drum and bugle corps formed in 1934 this sparkling musical group enjoys an outstanding reputation as a result of its performances of intricate drills and stirring arrangements but cayenne fix bayonets the battle color of the United States Marines this standard bears the streamers of battle and campaign honors one by the Corps and they span the history of the United States since the origins of marine pride and tradition can be traced through these streamers it is indeed ripe that their custody should be given to this the oldest post in the Corps Oh No the public is invited to these friday evening parades giving them all an opportunity to reflect on former generations who have contributed so much to the making of Marine Corps history began in 1934 this sunset parade has become a Marine Barracks tradition as well as one of Washington DC's main tourist attractions but I am here you sir the brain is horn take your post sir order officers then this Marine Corps silent drill team has performed at many White House ceremonies for the arrival of visiting heads of state at bowl games and at World's Fair exhibits both in this country and overseas the drill team performs from start to finish without benefit of voice commands as you can see a marine may exceed the accomplishments of those before him but none is expected to do less this then is the new breathe still another generation of Marines with the same convictions following the same doctrines and dedicating themselves as did those before them to the preservation of our ideals damn yes we've come a long way since those historic days when the first Marines were recruited at philadelphia's tun tavern in 1775 but the indestructible spirit is still the same the motivating factor in every Marine is at once intangible difficult to define and no amount of money can buy it simply stated it's that priceless ingredient which serves to make uncommon valor a common virtue at the evening parade the new breed fuses these elements symbolically into that which is known as the united states marine corps and the spotlight of history illuminates that symbol a symbol understood by all americans or after all it's their marine corps to a part of their american heritage and it will always remain our standard of excellence