Tribute to the US Marine Corps

I received an email this morning from a college friend and rugby mentor, a retired career Marine aviator, in reply to my email wishing him a happy 236th USMC birthday.  He shared with me the toast offered at the 1978 Marine Corps Birthday Ball, by then-Commandant General Louis Wilson, affectionately known as the "Smiling Cobra" (as an aside, just how bad do you have to be to earn a nickname like "Smiling Cobra"?)  I feel obliged to share it with you here:

GENERAL WILSON'S USMC BIRTHDAY TOAST

 

On the occasion marking the birthday of the US Marine Corps, 1978, onboard

Camp LeJeune, and in the presence of several thousand Marines and their

ladies, General Louis H. Wilson, CMC, arose to deliver his long awaited
address to the troops. He approached the rostrum, nodded to the CG's
(Base, FSSG and Division) and proceeded to explain to the captive masses
that he would be short on words that night - then turned to his bride, took a
glass and, amid absolutely DEAD SILENCE, offered this toast - and
promptly SAT DOWN.

LOVE

THE WONDERFUL LOVE OF A BEAUTIFUL MAID,
THE LOVE OF A STAUNCH TRUE MAN,
THE LOVE OF A BABY, UNAFRAID,
HAVE EXISTED SINCE TIME BEGAN.

BUT THE GREATEST OF LOVES,
THE QUINTESSENCE OF LOVES,
EVEN GREATER THAN THAT OF A MOTHER,
IS THE TENDER, PASSIONATE, INFINITE LOVE,
OF ONE DRUNKEN MARINE FOR ANOTHER.

 
THE WHOOPIN AND HOLLERIN WENT ON FOR A GOOD TEN MINUTES

God Bless the United States Marine Corps and keep them safe