John Paul Jones' grave is unguarded

troy2000 · 01-21-2006, 11:08 AM

Academy Ends a 155-Year Tradition
After Sunday, Marines will no longer guard military college or carry out ceremonial duties

Since just a few years after the Naval Academy's founding in 1845, Marines have guarded the military college and performed ceremonial duties. ... The 48 Marines of the U.S. Naval Academy Company, Marine Barracks, Washington, are being reassigned to installations at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and Twentynine Palms, Calif.

The decision to remove them was made at the highest levels of the Navy and the Marine Corps, officials said, as part of a program to reposition Marines to the combat units. The decision was partly influenced by the global war on terrorism but had been in the works before that, said Marine Corps spokeswoman Lt. Elle Helmer.
...

The decision to remove the Marine company from the academy was a harder one because of their tradition in guarding the college, performing ceremonial duties at funerals, raising flags and guarding the crypt of John Paul Jones.

NRAJOE · 01-21-2006, 03:13 PM

:right: Waste of manpower...

troy2000 · 01-21-2006, 05:28 PM

I think the Marines can afford 48 men to guard the gates, guard JPJ's grave, raise the flag, etc. They didn't even pull them during the World wars.

Big Dog · 01-21-2006, 05:40 PM

There's something to be said for maintaining tradition - the Navy and Marines do it better than the other services, IMHO.
This is obviously a 'bean-counter' decision.

Outriderdark · 01-21-2006, 08:17 PM

Rumsfeld seems to have not even a modicre of American spirit.

WetKnife · 01-22-2006, 09:18 AM

Have the plebes do it. !!!! , their getting a free education right? Anyways now you are going to get civilians doing these duties and they are going to screwit up.

Dennis · 01-24-2006, 05:07 AM

The Marines need to do it, What has changed? Why now?
Why stop haveing Marines Guarding Annapolis?
!!! is that all about?
That is a PERMANANT position that Marines MUST remain in
to stop now for no appearant reason other than budget cuts...
is the worst kind of wrong......

Beer Forever · 01-24-2006, 01:01 PM

John Paul Jones was one of the greatest bass players of all time. He helped Led Zeplin reach the great status of rock legends. His grave should be guarded at all times and there should be a hundred men there protecting it from potensial grave robbers, and vandals.

heilung · 01-27-2006, 07:24 PM

sks forever's response shows why traditions are important. So we never forget what is most important and who the real heros are. Heilung

Beer Forever · 01-27-2006, 09:09 PM

Just a joke. No harm meant. Have to admit, he was a great bass player.

Mooseman684 · 01-27-2006, 09:54 PM

I know he was hero...But gimme a break. Is graverobbing a big problem in that area??? How could anybody rest with people stomping all over above him? May he rest in peace Now. Soldiers need to be Soldiering !

NRAJOE · 01-27-2006, 10:39 PM

Who gives a crap...dig him up...put him on display...

troy2000 · 01-27-2006, 11:51 PM

To protect Annapolis and the people there. I believe that's a legitimate form of soldiering?

And I don't think having a small contingent of combat-trained troops there today is a bad idea; Annapolis or one of the other academies would would make a nice target for Al Queda. Somehow, being told by Rumsfeld's underlings that "enlisted Navy personnel will be assigned when deemed necessary" doesn't reassure me much.

Regarding the ceremonial duties they also perform: a little ceremony and tradition are part of the glue that holds the military together. And the country, for that matter.

Should we stop singing the National Anthem because it's a waste of time, and tear down the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument to make room for more office buildings?

01-21-2006, 11:08 AM	#1
troy2000 Resident Armed Liberal Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 10,017 Images: 9	John Paul Jones' grave is unguarded Academy Ends a 155-Year Tradition After Sunday, Marines will no longer guard military college or carry out ceremonial duties Since just a few years after the Naval Academy's founding in 1845, Marines have guarded the military college and performed ceremonial duties. ... The 48 Marines of the U.S. Naval Academy Company, Marine Barracks, Washington, are being reassigned to installations at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and Twentynine Palms, Calif. The decision to remove them was made at the highest levels of the Navy and the Marine Corps, officials said, as part of a program to reposition Marines to the combat units. The decision was partly influenced by the global war on terrorism but had been in the works before that, said Marine Corps spokeswoman Lt. Elle Helmer. ... The decision to remove the Marine company from the academy was a harder one because of their tradition in guarding the college, performing ceremonial duties at funerals, raising flags and guarding the crypt of John Paul Jones.

01-21-2006, 05:40 PM	#4
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,412	There's something to be said for maintaining tradition - the Navy and Marines do it better than the other services, IMHO. This is obviously a 'bean-counter' decision. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

01-21-2006, 08:17 PM	#5
Outriderdark Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 1,125	Rumsfeld seems to have not even a modicre of American spirit. __________________ "Would it make you feel better, little girl, if they was thrown outta windows?"-Archie Bunker

01-24-2006, 05:07 AM	#7
Dennis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,882	The Marines need to do it, What has changed? Why now? Why stop haveing Marines Guarding Annapolis? !!! is that all about? That is a PERMANANT position that Marines MUST remain in to stop now for no appearant reason other than budget cuts... is the worst kind of wrong...... __________________ Submitted with respect to all

01-24-2006, 01:01 PM	#8
Beer Forever Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,718	John Paul Jones was one of the greatest bass players of all time. He helped Led Zeplin reach the great status of rock legends. His grave should be guarded at all times and there should be a hundred men there protecting it from potensial grave robbers, and vandals. __________________ Paramedic sks forever

01-21-2006, 03:13 PM	#2
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,252 Images: 3	:right: Waste of manpower...

01-21-2006, 05:28 PM	#3
troy2000 Resident Armed Liberal Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 10,017 Images: 9	I think the Marines can afford 48 men to guard the gates, guard JPJ's grave, raise the flag, etc. They didn't even pull them during the World wars.

01-22-2006, 09:18 AM	#6
WetKnife Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 239	Have the plebes do it. !!!! , their getting a free education right? Anyways now you are going to get civilians doing these duties and they are going to screwit up.

01-27-2006, 07:24 PM	#9
heilung Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 235 Blog Entries: 5	Why We Have Tradition sks forever's response shows why traditions are important. So we never forget what is most important and who the real heros are. Heilung

01-27-2006, 09:09 PM	#10
Beer Forever Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,718	Just a joke. No harm meant. Have to admit, he was a great bass player. __________________ Paramedic sks forever

01-27-2006, 09:54 PM	#11
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 10,528 Images: 2	I know he was hero...But gimme a break. Is graverobbing a big problem in that area??? How could anybody rest with people stomping all over above him? May he rest in peace Now. Soldiers need to be Soldiering ! __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

01-27-2006, 10:39 PM	#12
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,252 Images: 3	Who gives a crap...dig him up...put him on display...

01-27-2006, 11:51 PM	#13
troy2000 Resident Armed Liberal Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 10,017 Images: 9	The Marines were originally posted during the Civil War To protect Annapolis and the people there. I believe that's a legitimate form of soldiering? And I don't think having a small contingent of combat-trained troops there today is a bad idea; Annapolis or one of the other academies would would make a nice target for Al Queda. Somehow, being told by Rumsfeld's underlings that "enlisted Navy personnel will be assigned when deemed necessary" doesn't reassure me much. Regarding the ceremonial duties they also perform: a little ceremony and tradition are part of the glue that holds the military together. And the country, for that matter. Should we stop singing the National Anthem because it's a waste of time, and tear down the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument to make room for more office buildings?