US Marine Corps Birthday Ball

**Geoff Withnell** · 15th November 09, 04:42 PM

As promised, I have pictures from this afternoon's Baltimore Detachment, Marine Corps League USMC Birthday Ball.

This is me, in my Barb Tewksbury Leatherneck kilt, and argyle and waistcoat jacket from USA Kilts:

This is me with the most most important kilt accessory, a beautiful Lady, my wife Michele. She agreed to marry me at the MARTD El Toro Birthday Ball in 1971.

The presentation of the colors. The 104th Engineer Battalion provided an active duty Color party.

The hall, where the brotherhood and our friends and lovers had a great time.

And a last shot of me and my Lady, at the hall.

We had a empty place set for the POW/MIAs among our brothers who could not be there, but are not forgotten.

Geoff Withnell

**svc40bt** · 15th November 09, 06:00 PM

Great pictures, Geoff.

**Ozark Ridge Rider** · 15th November 09, 06:08 PM

Great pix, Jeff. Is there a reason/story for the swatch of tartan on your sporran?

**thescot** · 15th November 09, 06:21 PM

Thanks, Jeff. Oooh-rah. glad to hear you guys did it right.

The empty seat made me a bit misty.

**bigdad1** · 15th November 09, 06:29 PM

Excellent Jeff. Both you and your "accessory" looked marvelous.
Semper Fi.

**Bigkahuna** · 15th November 09, 06:59 PM

Very nice Jeff. Looks like you and all the rest of Uncle Sams Misguided Children had a great time.

**dfmacliam** · 15th November 09, 07:12 PM

OOOOOORRRRRRAAAAHHH! I am glad you had such a great time at the Ball.. You look great! But without sounding bad, I feel your sporran is a bit low.. Just my opinion. Anyways, how was the reactions to the kilt? I would assume, positive, since it is the Leatherneck tartan.

I do appreciate the photos.. It's good seeing the Marine Corps League in force!

Honestly, I had never been to a real Ball, though I had enjoyed a MC birthday bash, with local Marines from the site "Together We Served".

I did get to feel all proud checking out the pictures of my son, dressed out in his dress blues, at the Marine Corps Ball, at Camp Fuji, Japan.

**Kiltman** · 15th November 09, 08:49 PM

Great to see you in your kilt and jacket. Thanks for the pics.

**Geoff Withnell** · 16th November 09, 04:02 AM

Originally Posted by Ozark Ridge Rider

Great pix, Jeff. Is there a reason/story for the swatch of tartan on your sporran?

It is sort of an experiment. I took a piece of the extra material from the making of my kilt, and made a bias oriented stripe across the front of a very plain black sporran that had an eagle globe and anchor (Marine emblem) on the flap. I wanted it to look a bit more dressy. According to my Lady, it looks better in person than in the pics, but I am not sure I am 100% happy with the result yet.

Geoff Withnell

**Geoff Withnell** · 16th November 09, 04:08 AM

Originally Posted by peacekeeper83

OOOOOORRRRRRAAAAHHH! I am glad you had such a great time at the Ball.. You look great! But without sounding bad, I feel your sporran is a bit low.. Just my opinion. Anyways, how was the reactions to the kilt? I would assume, positive, since it is the Leatherneck tartan.

I do appreciate the photos.. It's good seeing the Marine Corps League in force!

Honestly, I had never been to a real Ball, though I had enjoyed a MC birthday bash, with local Marines from the site "Together We Served".

I did get to feel all proud checking out the pictures of my son, dressed out in his dress blues, at the Marine Corps Ball, at Camp Fuji, Japan.

I agree, I haven't gotten the hang (pun intended) of the sporran strap quite right yet. The kilt was very well received, including by the young active duty men. BTW, our Corps is in good hands, those guys were like young lions. As I am sure your son is.

Geoff Withnell