Instructor’s
Lesson Plan w/TEST
Aug – Dec 2012
Customs and Courtesies
1st semester, 2nd 6 weeks
KEY STANDARD: Cadet should be able to give examples of
US / USMC Customs and Courtesies and
explain their origin.
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Customs and Courtesies
KEY STANDARD: Cadets should be able to give examples of
US / USMC Customs and Courtesies and
explain their origin.
Know: 1st tradition adopted from England
USA Birthdate / birthplace
USA Mascot
USA Motto and where can you find it
Three sizes of the U.S. flag
If you are in civilian clothing or in uniform and the National
Anthem is played, what should you do?
On the one dollar bill explain:
The “Eye” at the top of the pyramid
The “unfinished pyramid”
The letters “MDCCLXXVI”
The phrase “Novus Ordo Seclorum”
How many stars/berries/arrows are on the eagle side
of the seal and what they represent.
Why does the eagle look to his right (the olive branch side)?
The phrase “E Pluribus Unum”
Know/ Explain USMC Customs:
Mascot
Song
Motto
Colors
Use of Naval Terminology
Saluting / saluting distance
Use of “Sir” / “Ma’am”
At the Marine Corps Ball - why the table in black?
- why 4 pieces of cake?
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Customs and Courtesies
America:
Most of the customs and courtesies in America come from our
motherland – Great Britain or England. The first tradition we adopted was
our language – English.
The signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania established another tradition – our birthday on July 4th 1776,
and birthplace as in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Soon afterwards we
adopted the Bald Eagle as our mascot and the phrase “In God We Trust” as
our motto – found on our money – the penny, nickel, dime, quarter, half
dollar, dollar, the dollar bill, five dollar bill, ten dollar bill, etc, etc.
The flag of the United States presently has 50 white stars on a blue field –
one star for each state, and thirteen stripes – 7 red, 6 white. The U.S. flag
normally comes in three sizes:
- Storm (the smallest)
- Post (normally flown)
- Holiday or Garrison (normally flown on Sundays or holidays)
This is a huge flag normally requiring approximately
15 people to properly fold it.
The official colors of the U.S.A. are Red, White, and Blue, and our
National song or anthem is ‘The Star Spangled Banner”.
If you are in uniform, but not in a formation and the National Anthem is
played, you would stand at attention, face the music and salute. You begin
your salute on the first note of the Anthem “Oh say . . . .” and would
terminate your salute on the last note of the music “. . . and the home of the
brave.”
If you are in civilian attire and the National Anthem is played, you
would stand at attention, face the music and place your hand over your heart.
You would place your hand over your heart at the first note of the Anthem
“Oh say . . . .” and would take your hand away from your heart on the last
note of the music “. . . and the home of the brave.”
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We see many of our customs everyday but don’t even think about them.
Our motto, ‘In God We Trust”, is found on our money. Look at a dollar bill:
[Place a Copy of $1 bill here]
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On the “Tails” side of the dollar bill, in the very center of the bill is the
word “ONE” and right above it is our national motto – “In God We Trust”.
Looking at the left side of “THE GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED
STATES” we see a phrase:
“ANNUIT COEPITIS”
Latin roughly for:
“He (God) approves our efforts”
Below that, we have a pyramid with a triangle with an eye in it. The eye
represents an “all seeing EYE of providence (God)” that watches over an
“unfinished pyramid”(which represents our growing nation) a work in
progress.
Why a pyramid: Solid foundation without limit on its growth
The pyramid on the dollar bill consists of thirteen levels or steps
(representing the 13 original colonies) and the base of the pyramid has the
letters:
MDCCLXXVI
M = 1000
D = 500
C = 100
C = 100
L = 50
X
X
V
I
I
= 10
= 10
= 5
= 1
= 1
1 7 7 6
The date the pyramid or our Nation was established!
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Under the pyramid is a streamer with the phrase:
“NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM” Latin meaning:
Novus
= New
Ordo
= Order
Seclorum = Of the Ages
Referring to a new era or type of government. A style of government not by
Kings (Ordained or chosen by God) or by Priests, but a government of and
by the people thus a:
“NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM”
or
“NEW ORDER OF THE AGES”
Secular refers to “not religious” hence without rule by Kings (Ordained
by God) or Priests.
Now let’s look at the Eagle side of the seal.
A Bald Eagle with thirteen stars overhead is holding an olive branch
(representing peace) in his right claw. Note the number of berries – 13
In the eagle’s left claw is a clutch of arrows (the symbol for war). Again,
the number - 13
The number 13 representing the 13 original colonies of the:
“NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM”
Notice that the Eagle is looking to his right – towards the symbol for peace,
indicating that is his 1st choice, but at the ready, in his left claw is the clutch
of arrows signifying that if need be, he is ready for war!
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The streamer in his beak reads “E Pluribus Unum”
Latin translation “From Many, One”
Meaning: from many nations or peoples into one nation or people
America - the Nation and Americans the people - united!
Now let’s look at the U.S. Marine Corps:
USMC:
Know/ Explain USMC Customs
As we said before, most of our traditions come from the British
- the British mascot: An English Bulldog
- The Marine Corps mascot: An English Bulldog
- The song or hymn of the Marine Corps: The Marines Hymn
- the British Marine Corps motto: Per Terrum Per Mare
- the first Marine Corps motto: Per Terrum Per Mare
- The present day Marine Corps motto: Semper Fidelis
-
the British Marine Corps colors: Scarlet and Gold
- The Marine Corps colors: Scarlet and Gold
Why does the U.S. Marine Corps use Navy terminology?
Because the British Marines (Soldiers of the sea)
used Navy terminology!
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Saluting: The salute originated with the Knights of the roundtable.
A knight would see another knight and, not knowing who the
other knight was, he would raise his visor to get a better look – the other
knight would do likewise and the salute was created. Today the salute is
recognized as a formal greeting between members of the armed forces. It is
also a form of recognition between seniors and subordinates, and the
military and civilian personnel in positions of authority.
The distance for saluting is 6 to 30 paces and a salute is always given with
formal greeting such as “Good Morning Sir” Good Evening Ma’am”.
The use of Sir or Ma’am is used by military personnel as a show of good
manners and respect.
The Marine Corps Birthday Ball is another Marine Corps Tradition or
Custom. Every year on or about 10 November Marines around the world
celebrate the birth of our Corps!
During the ball, 4 pieces of cake are served:
- one to the guest of honor
- one the oldest Marine present
- one to the youngest Marine present
- one placed on the table draped in black that
represents those who have sacrificed their lives
for our nation.
These are just a few of the customs and courtesies of our nation and our
Corps.
Are there any questions?
Let’s review:
1. What was the 1st tradition or custom America adopted from
England?
2. What is the birth date of the USA?
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3. What is the birth place of the USA?
4. What is the mascot of the USA?
5. What is the largest U.S. flag called?
6. What is the motto of the USA?
7. Where can you find the motto of the USA?
8. The flag of the USA normally comes in 3 sizes, what are they?
9. When you are in civilian clothing and the National Anthem
is played, what should you do?
Looking at the copy of the dollar bill and the
Great Seal of the United States of America on
the “Tails” side:
10. What does the “Eye” at the top of the pyramid represent?
11. What does the “unfinished pyramid” represent?
12. At the base of the pyramid, what does “MDCCLXXVI” represent?
13. What does the phrase “Novus Ordo Seclorum” mean?
14. How many stars/berries/arrows are on the eagle side of the seal
and what do they represent?
15. Why does the eagle look to the right (the olive branch side)?
16. What does the phrase “E Pluribus Unum” (the streamer in the
eagles mouth) mean?
17. What is the mascot of the Marine Corps?
18. What is the song or Hymn of the Marine Corps?
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19. What is the motto of the Marine Corps?
20. What are the Marine Corps colors?
21. Why does the Marine Corps use Navy terminology?
22. What is the saluting distance?
23. Why do we use the term “Sir” or “Ma’am”?
24. During the Marine Corps Birthday Ball Ceremony, 4 pieces of cake
are given - to who?
25. When not in a formation but in uniform, and the National Anthem is
played, when do you salute and when do you terminate your salute?
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DO NOT WRITE ON THIS TEST, PUT YOUR
ANSWERS ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER
______________________
Name, Period
Customs and Courtesies
U.S.A.
1. What was the 1st tradition or custom America adopted from
England?
2. What is the birth date of the USA?
3. What is the birth place of the USA?
4. What is the mascot of the USA?
5. What is the largest size U.S. flag called?
6. What is the motto of the USA?
7. Where can you find the motto of the USA?
8. The flag of the USA normally comes in 3 sizes, what are they?
9. When you are in civilian clothing and the National Anthem
is played, what should you do?
The following questions concern the Great Seal
of the United States of America found on the
one dollar bill.
10. What does the “Eye” at the top of the pyramid represent?
11. What does the “unfinished pyramid” represent?
12. At the base of the pyramid, what does “MDCCLXXVI” represent?
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13. What does the phrase “Novus Ordo Seclorum” mean?
14. How many stars/berries/arrows are on the eagle side of the seal
and what do they represent?
15. Why does the eagle look to the right (the olive branch side)?
16. What does the phrase “E Pluribus Unum” (the streamer in the
eagles mouth) mean?
USMC
17. What is the mascot of the Marine Corps?
18. What is the song or Hymn of the Marine Corps?
19. What is the motto of the Marine Corps?
20. What are the Marine Corps colors?
21. Why does the Marine Corps use Navy terminology?
22. What is the saluting distance?
23. Why do we use the term “Sir” or “Ma’am”?
24. During the Marine Corps Birthday Ball Ceremony, 4 pieces of cake
are given - to who?
25. When not in a formation but in uniform, and the National Anthem is
played, when do you salute and when do you terminate your salute?
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