Marine Birthday Celebration a Fitting Prelude to Veterans Day Ceremony

Saturday’s American Legion-hosted 11/11 Veterans’ Day ceremony on the Warren County Courthouse grounds followed another significant veterans’ event, staged possibly for the first time in Front Royal two days earlier. That event was a party celebrating the 248th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. Reserve U.S. Marine Corps officer, Lt. Col. Rob MacDougall, a relative newcomer to Front Royal, hosted Marine Corps veterans from around the Warren County area at the party, which included birthday cake — yum, yum, our roving reporter Malcolm Barr Sr. emphasized. Barr also pointed out that MacDougall has stepped in, in recent years, to assist him in overseeing the revived local Memorial Day ceremony the last Monday of May. McDougall must have taken a liking to helping see such events to fruition.

Regardless of the downtown location, above Gazebo/Village Commons, below the WC Courthouse lawn with R-MA cadets, in recent years, Rob McDougall has taken an interest in helping see that memorial events honoring the nation’s veterans, their service and sacrifice are acknowledged on an annual basis. This year, he may have established a new one – Semper Fi, Rob. – Royal Examiner File Photos

The Marine Birthday Party at East Main Street’s On Cue restaurant, sports bar, and billiards emporium was actually held a day early, Thursday, November 9, to accommodate the host location, closing its first floor to the public for the private party event. Some 50 to 60 guests were estimated, several in dress uniforms, crowded into the restaurant for dinner, dancing, and a solemn ceremony commemorating the founding of the Marine Corps.

A little online research explained the origin of the Marine Corps November 10 birthday: “The United States Marine Corps was established on November 10, 1775, to augment naval forces in the Revolutionary War. The recruiting headquarters was set up by Capt. Samuel Nicholas in the Tun Tavern on Water Street in Philadelphia, which is considered to be the birthplace of the Marines.” So, it would seem the On Cue location was a very appropriate one for this celebration.

On Thursday, Nov. 9, when the first floor of the On Cue site was available for a private party, local Marines and their guests gathered a day early to celebrate the 248th anniversary of the Nov. 10, 1775, founding of the U.S. Marine Corps. Semper Fi, On Cue.

MacDougall envisions this becoming an annual local event in common with Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and the Humane Society of Warren County’s recent introduction of an annual ceremony dedicated to the “Dogs of War,” conducted by the aforementioned Examiner contributing writer Malcolm Barr Sr. Barr explained his presence at the Marines and guests private party, other than as an interested journalist, to us. It seems that the Royal Air Force (UK) veteran and former Associated Press military correspondent was also a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondents’ Association, as well.

Semper Fi, Rob, Malcolm, and all the other attendees. And a thank you to On Cue for hosting the event.

From the website, Semper Fi/Semper Fidelis defined: “Latin for ‘Always Faithful,’ Semper Fidelis is the motto of every Marine—an eternal and collective commitment to the success of our battles, the progress of our Nation, and the steadfast loyalty to the fellow Marines we fight alongside.”