Happy 238th birthday!

Happy Birthday, United States Marine Corps!

Saturday night the marines hosted a ball to celebrate the 238th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. The champagne flowed, the dance floor was bumping and despite all that, I only tripped in my fancy high heels once.

The marines in Dakar are surely the few and the proud as Senegal has only 5 young men stationed here at the embassy. They still manage to throw a beautiful ball every year to celebrate the Corps birthday and who better to help them celebrate than a couple of Peace Corps volunteers.

How did I manage such an invite? Well, fellow Koldoise Whitney is Dakar's unofficial social chair (I am starting her campaign soon to make the position official, with business cards and a lunch-ing stipend). She is also serving her third year in Dakar working on the third goal of cultural exchange with Americans, meaning she has helped expats feel more comfortable getting out of the Dakar bubble to explore all that Senegal has to offer. This has led to a great network for Peace Corps volunteers that includes many people in the embassy as well as the marines. Since the boys in dress blues were without dates for the big night Whitney organized a few of us new Dakaroise to be +1.

The evening began early in the day with hair and make-up before we slipped on heels on to our very well scrubbed feet. Then it was off to the embassy!

After taking photos next to flags, we joined the other 200 expat guests during a cocktail hour. I have never felt quite so lovely as I did sipping champagne in a pretty dress (thank you to Whitney's mom for sending it). We also finally got to catch up with our slightly stressed dates, who had been working all day cleaning and setting up for the party - they claimed to have scrubbed the floor with toothbrushes, I'm hesitant to buy it. The party people were gently herded from the bar up to the embassy's cafeteria which had been transformed into a true ballroom. We refilled our champagne flutes before settling into watch the opening ceremony where the Marines and ambassador present the colors, a member of the corps reads the order that established the celebrating of the founding of the Marine Corps, a video montage and a ceremonial cutting of the ceremonial birthday cake - with a ceremonial saber, of course.

After the pomp and circumstance, the marines could finally sit down and enjoy the evening. They are all fine gentlemen. Prime example was when my date didn't complain at all when I blatantly asked if I could finish off his dessert - he was eating it slowly and I was concerned it was going to waste. You don't waste chocolate cake, dude. After dinner, dancing quickly began. I had the good fortune to be dancing with a marine who had skills and didn't mind my occasional back leading or high heels stabbing him in the foot.

Thank you to the USMC stationed here in Dakar for a fine evening and to all marines for your service. Here's to your health.

MARINE CORPS ORDERS
No. 47 (Series 1921)
HEADQUARTERS U.S. MARINE CORPS
Washington, November 1, 1921
759. The following will be read to the command on the 10th of November, 1921, and hereafter on the 10th of November of every year. Should the order not be received by the 10th of November, 1921, it will be read upon receipt.

1. On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of Continental Congress. Since that date many thousand men have borne the name "Marine". In memory of them it is fitting that we who are Marines should commemorate the birthday of our corps by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrious history.
2. The record of our corps is one which will bear comparison with that of the most famous military organizations in the world's history. During 90 of the 146 years of its existence the Marine Corps has been in action against the Nation's foes. From the Battle of Trenton to the Argonne, Marines have won foremost honors in war, and in the long eras of tranquility at home, generation after generation of Marines have grown gray in war in both hemispheres and in every corner of the seven seas, that our country and its citizens might enjoy peace and security.
3. In every battle and skirmish since the birth of our corps, Marines have acquitted themselves with the greatest distinction, winning new honors on each occasion until the term "Marine" has come to signify all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue.
4. This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we who are Marines today have received from those who preceded us in the corps. With it we have also received from them the eternal spirit which has animated our corps from generation to generation and has been the distinguishing mark of the Marines in every age. So long as that spirit continues to flourish Marines will be found equal to every emergency in the future as they have been in the past, and the men of our Nation will regard us as worthy successors to the long line of illustrious men who have served as "Soldiers of the Sea" since the founding of the Corps.