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- You are connected to the past
more closely than you think,

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even to a battle fought a century ago.

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John Thomason was a
veteran of World War I,

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a leatherneck of the old breed,

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and a Lieutenant in 1/5

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who fought at Belleau Wood,
Soissons, Blanc Monte,

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and other places in France.

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I never met him, but I read his book,

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Fix Bayonets, after participating

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in the regiment's 78th
anniversary in 1995.

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As a brand new 2nd Lieutenant
Platoon Commander in 2/5,

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I stood in regimental formation

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as a half-dozen veterans of
the Battle of Belleau Wood,

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all in their mid-nineties or older,

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witnessed the hanging of the streamer

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representing the Croix de Guerre

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on the organizational color.

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Afterward, I got to shake their hands,

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one touch connecting me directly

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to a battle fought a
century ago this year.

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Now, I'm connecting you to
them, and to John Thomason,

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by relating this story on
the birthday of our corps.

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- Since that battle

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in the unforgiving
fortress at Belleau Wood,

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our regiment have constant
to answer the nation call

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to fight and win our
place like Guadalcanal,

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New Britain, eastern New Guinea,

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Peleliu, Okinawa, Korea, Vietnam,

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Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.

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Today, our regiment men
train and equip battalions,

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detachment, and any feature to deploy

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in support of our national security need,

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while maintaining a
high state of readiness,

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and professionally develop
our marines and sailor

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to respond to crisis and/or contingency

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when the nation call.

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(inspirational music)

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Our regiment was formed
over a century ago,

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on 8 June, 1917,

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for deployment to France
during World War I.

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There, we earn our
nickname, Fighting Fear,

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on the battlefield of Western Europe.

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So fear was our effort in famous battles

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such as Belleau Wood,

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that the French government decide

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to award our regiment the Croix de Guerre

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with two palm and one gilt star.

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As a result of receiving this honor,

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each marines and sailor
serving in our regiment

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is authorized to wear the fourragere

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to recognize the legacy and valor

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of his or her predecessor.

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- 243 years ago, the
Continental Congress resolved

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to raise two battalions of marines.

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Since that time, our corps has raised

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and reinvented many more units,

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and made many men and women into marines,

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until we created the
amazingly capable force

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that we have today.

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A large part of celebrating our birthday

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involves recalling the campaigns

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and honoring the veterans

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who forged the legacy that we inherit.

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The streamers on a unit's
organizational color

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were earned by marines and sailors,

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some famous, most not.

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In war, they moved to
the sound of the guns,

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usually first, when the
nation was unprepared.

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In peace, they stood the watch,

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usually far from families and home.

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In all cases, they
answered the nation's call.

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Their valor and sacrifice
achieved remarkable success,

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and their example inspires
those of us who serve today.

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(inspirational music)

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- As we pause today

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to celebrate the 243rd
birthday of our corps,

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from our fort location
in the Central Command

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area of operation, our
Regimental Commander

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and I wanted to extend
our sincere gratitude

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to all of our family
and the many supporters,

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for your unyielding support,

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which enable us to focus on our mission.

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To all of the marines and sailors,

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thank you for your sacrifice,

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and all that you do for our nation.

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Because of men and women like you,

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our country will forever
remain a land of the free

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and the home of the brave.

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Remember that being a marines
or sailor subbing with marines

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is an honor that only few can ever claim.

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Only a fraction of those few

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will ever have the distinct privilege

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to serve in 5th Marine Regiment.

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Be proud of our tradition

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and uphold the legacy of
those who went before us.

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We are the warrior of our corps,

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most decorated regiment,
the Fighting Fifth Marines.

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Happy Birthday, and
remain always faithful.

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- Those who preceded
us in the corps passed

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to us the traditions of
service and steadfastness,

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while standing the watch,

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and valor, and success on the battlefield.

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That heritage is all around us,

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on the pages of books and in the memories

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of our veterans, young and old.

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Take the opportunity to get to know them,

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by reading about them
and by talking to them.

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The inspiration will serve you well,

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and it will make you a better marines.

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We will be tested, and we must be ready

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to make our contributions
to the traditions

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of things endured and
of things accomplished,

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such as regiments hand down forever.

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Happy Birthday, marines.

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(introspective music)