Celebration And Tribute To Memorial Day (Page One)
(May 20th 2012) Last Updated: 09/11/2019 10:38:AM
May 28th, 2012
Memorial Day is a federal holiday observed annually in the United States on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War. (Southern ladies organizations and southern schoolchildren had decorated Confederate graves in Richmond and other cities during the Civil War, but each region had its own date. Most dates were in May.) By the 20th century Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died in all wars. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Business First At The Pre-Dance Board Meeting
Neal gets the giggles
Our Secretary and Vice-President led the meeting this evening
Joyce says "Time to adjoun... Its time to dance!"
Who Was Here?
Click for the full sized collage
The Dance in Detail: We Begin With Our Meet And Greet
Must be something good happening in that room, what could it be???
Front and center soldiers. This is check in with Joe Ramos (Long Beach) and Ella Jolly (Harbor City)
Ah ha.... It's the Topper May 2012 Dance
A tribute to Memorial Day
Aptopix, France
The visiting is underway
The Maitre d' welcomes Shirley and Brian
Na... That's Herbie!
Caught mid-wink at Irene
We Are Safe, The Marines Have Arrived
The Marines have arrived
The Gunnery Sergeant studies the sculpture of the Marines raising the flag in battle
Did You Know? - Gunnery Sergeant in the infantry is typically in charge of coordinating logistics for a company-sized group of Marines (approximately 180 personnel). Junior Gunnery Sergeants usually serve as platoon sergeant for weapons platoons. A U.S. Army Sergeant First Class shares the same pay grade as a Gunnery Sergeant, but not the same responsibilities. A Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant's job is to be the operations chief of a company of Marines and has renown as a "hands on disciplinarian".
A service stripe, commonly called a hash mark, is a decoration of the United States military which is presented to enlisted members of the U.S. military to denote length of service. His hash marks reveal he has served his country for at least sixteen years!
The ladies just spotted the Marines
The Topper's Secret Shoes Content....
To whom does this belong??
The prize... Much better looking pair of real dance shoes
Our resident cheerleader whips us into a frenzy
Serious conversations
Oh oh
Joyce and Jack
Beautiful table settings
Kathy is showing her secret Ninja move.... Opening a wine bottle using her hands only!
Linda and Craig
Ready to dance
"It is agreed, we will not chase the Marines around the table this time, right!?"
Presentation Of The Colors
The Color Guard is ready
Everyone is up and at attention
Did You Know? - In the U.S., traditionally, the unit's sergeant major is responsible for the safeguarding, care, and display of the organizational colors. The sergeant major is also responsible for the selection, training, and performance of the members. The color guard consists of enlisted members and is commanded by the senior (color) Sergeant, who carries the National Color and gives the necessary commands for movements and rendering honors during drill exercises or parade ceremonies.
Being assigned to the color guard is considered an honor due to the fact that these individuals present and carry the symbols of their unit and country. Depending on the circumstance and subject to the orders of their commander, members may wear full dress or less formal uniforms. It is mandatory for all members of the color guard to wear headgear, for example, a garrison cap, beret, or service cap.
Paying respect to our nation, our people, and our colors
Precision movements
These gentlemen were like clockwork... Made us proud
These are not simple moves because our flag must always be on the right
Did You Know? - The color guard is formed and marched in one rank at close interval (shoulder-to-shoulder). Since the National Colors must always be in the position of honor on the right, the color guard must execute a special movement to reverse direction.
It does not execute rear march, nor does it execute about face. Rather, it performs a maneuver derived from the standard counter column command, generally known as counter march or colors reverse march, in order to keep the precedence of flags in order.
At attention while we did the Pledge Of Allegiance
Did You Know? - According to the Flag Code, the Pledge "should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present and not in uniform may render the military salute. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute"
The Pledge Of Allegiance has not been "official" for a long period of time!
Did You Know? - The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States is an expression of loyalty to the federal flag and the republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Francis Bellamy in 1892 and formally adopted by Congress as the pledge in 1942.
The Pledge has been modified four times since its composition, with the most recent change adding the words "under God" in 1954.
