On this day in history ... the United States Marine Corps

On this day in 1775, the Continental Congress tasked Samuel Nicholas to form two battalions.  

One hundred seventy nine years later, on this day in 1954, President Eisenhower (an Army man himself) dedicates the USMC War Memorial near Arlington National Cemetery.   The memorial depicts the raising of the raising of the US flag on Iwo Jima during World War II. 

Happy 240th Birthday, US Marine Corps!  I invite you to leave birthday greetings for the Marine Corps.  One randomly selected commenter from this week's posts wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 14, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 15, at SOS Aloha.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Marines in 1918 during WWI.
Public Domain