The USMC puts out “‘A Patriot’s Guide,” a brochure about the Marine Corps. One statement in that barochure underlines the importance of the USMC. Here is that statement: “There is no dout that the United States Marine Corps fulfills a noble and necessary role in our nation’s security.”
That statement has caused this blogger to reflect on information that she has–information about the formation of the USMC. According to her information, members of the Continental Congress could foresee a need for a Marine Corps way back in 1775.
One group of men from the Congress talked about the need for some type of Marine Corps, while at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia. Not long after those Congressional representatives had their discussion, the Congress adopted a new resolution. That resoolution called for creation of the “First and Second Battalions of American Marines.”
The Congress adopted that resolution on November 10, 1775. On November 28 of the same year, the Congress made Samuel Nichols the Captian of those two Marine Battalions. That decison to commission Nichols represented an historical undertaking.
Prior to that date in 1775, the members of Congress had not taken any collective action that could aid the miltary efforts of their country, a country that sought its independence from Great Britain. Nichols’ commission was the first naval or miitary appointment in a country that was then seven plus months away from issuing its Declaration of Independence.
Obviously, our forefathers understood the relationship between security and independence. They realized that an independent country could not become a permanent fixture in the world unless its citizens had an assurance of security.
