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In 1775
The Marines
were given birth,
wrought of spirit
and steel ~
A Force
that would shake
the earth.

230 years
of blood, sweat
and tears ~
Hardened
this mighty force,
that always
stays its course.

A sacred
brotherhood
of warriors.
Their swords
of freedom raised.
Unfurl their
scarlet colors ~
Attack with
fury, fire and rage.

On land, air and sea
lightening is the strike.
Thunder, the
awesome roar.
Hammering the enemy
from desert sand to
ocean shore.

In the heat of battle
Marines refuse to yield.
Anchor and globe
their shield.
“Semper Fi” the call,
This brotherhood of
Warriors ~
“All for one
and one for All."

So, when the storms
of war descend
and the call goes out
to defend,
Marines will
fight until the end.
For when Marines
have landed,
all Hell is abandoned.

In the raging battle,
in the fiery blast,
Marines hold fast.
The fight furious,
The courage glorious.
Til victory is won,
for the fallen and the tall
“Victory for All.”

When “Taps”
are played,
o’er Fallen warriors’ graves,
the tattoo sings ~
“All were brave.”
Their “ALL”
is what they gave.

The Fallen,
they are not of earth.
Their brave spirits
have new birth.
They have risen
to the sky,
now, lightening is
Their fiery eyes
and thunder ~
Their mighty cry.

The Tall,
With every bugle call
Their spirits are given “All.”
“Semper Fi,” the call
“Victory for “ALL.”
Within every
fighting machine, is
The SPIRIT OF THE MARINES.

How do we
honor them?
What do we say?
To these valiant warriors
On this ~
Their birthday.

Only one great tribute
for this proud Corps,
Standing tall for “ALL,”
in uniforms of blues and greens ~
“You are noble
Warriors.”
“YOU ARE ~
UNITED STATES MARINES.”

© 2005 J. L. Manniso

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Proudly we served
Though little understood we held our ground
We fought and died and cried and sometimes laughed
But, proudly we served

Proudly we served
Like so many others who have gone before us
We fought for our country
For ourselves
For each other
We fought for you
But, proudly we served

Proudly we served
We paid the awful price that war demands
And only ask that you our fellow Americans remember our task
For proudly we served

Proudly we served
Along with our friends
Those who hallowed the battle grounds of Viet Nam
Our country chose us to serve so that you who did not go
Who stayed at home would know, would say
Proudly they served

© 1987 J. L. Manniso

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We are second to none
We do our jobs
On land, air, and sea
Wherever our nation sends us
To keep our country free

We are Army, Navy, Air Force -
Coast Guard, and Marines
The Fighting men and women
Who protect the “American Dream”

Sons and daughters of America
When our nation calls us to “war”
We take-up arms and armament
To fight on foreign shores

From the Halls of Montezuma
To Iraq’s ancient shores
We take the fight to the enemy
And come crashing through his doors

And when the call is, “we must fight”
To the folks at home, whether left or right
Please keep this thought in your sight,
That bullets kill, both black and white

So when our nation calls us
To shed our blood and tears
We only ask that you support us
With love, hope, and prayers

Then in the raging battles
When we are standing tall
That you stand tall beside us
And give us your best, your all

For we will fight the battles
Until victory is won
And come home to friends and loved ones
When the battle for peace is won

And to the buddies who didn’t make it
Who died on foreign shores
You are the true heroes
The brave souls of the wars

We will always remember
And hope you will remember too
The sacrifice of the soldiers
Who fought for country, for me, and for you

The price of peace is high
For freedom is not free
The tyrant’s levied cost
Is the death of liberty

For we are second to none
We do our jobs
On land, air, and sea
Wherever our nation sends us
To keep our country free

We are Army, Navy, Air Force -
Coast Guard, and Marines
The Fighting men and women
Who protect the “American Dream”

©2004 James L. Manniso

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