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Molly Marine: Embodying Corps Values
(July 5, 2011) | 
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June 2, 2011 - The original Molly Marine statue
was created to inspire women to join the Corps during the 1940s and
still stands as an icon of inspiration to female recruits during
recruit training. |
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Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC (June 30, 2011) -
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island is the only place in the
world where females are trained to be enlisted U.S. Marines. As
such, it is a fitting place to erect a monument in honor of women
Marines.
The Molly Marine statue stands at the intersection
of Boulevard De France and Santo Domingo Street, adjacent to the
Iron Mike Statue. It is a replica of the original statue of Molly
located in New Orleans.
A mold was made of the original
statue in 1999, and two replicas were cast in bronze. The first
replica came here and the second went to Quantico, Va., where female
Marine officers are trained. A dedication ceremony for the Parris
Island replica was held Oct. 23, 1999.
“A statue is much more
than just bronze, it is a permanent reminder of people and events
that are worth remembering. In the absence of the statue, people may
forget the instance or the people,” said Dave Smoot, Parris Island
Museum technician. “The Molly Marine statue
commemorates women
Marines and their deeds throughout history.”
In 1943, in the
middle of World War II, Marine Technical Sgt. Charles Gresham, a
recruiter, needed a way to promote the enlistment of females into
the Marine Corps. He decided on a statue of a woman in uniform.
Gresham enlisted the help of French Quarter artist Enrique
Alferez to sculpt the statue. Alferez used marble chips and granite
instead of the usual bronze to cast the statue due to limitations
imposed on materials because of the war. The statue would have to be
restored twice during its lifetime due to the construction
materials. |
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The original statue was dedicated Nov. 10, 1943, the year the women's
reserve was activated and also the day of the Marine Corps' 168th
birthday.
“The Molly Marine statue in New Orleans was the first
statue of a woman in uniform to be erected,” said Linda Priest,
president of the Women Marines Association in Beaufort, S.C. “So
naturally, it brings us a great amount of pride to know that the statue
was that of a woman Marine.”
Every Wednesday, on a graduation
week, at the base of the Molly Marine statue, the graduating platoons of
4th Recruit Training Battalion form up to honor the Molly Marine of
their respective platoon. The recruit selected as Molly Marine is the
recruit who best exemplified all the traits that make a Marine during
recruit training.
“The members of the platoon pick who they want
to receive the Molly Marine Award,” said Staff Sgt. Olivia Soper, a 4th
RTBn. drill instructor. “The recipient is usually a recruit who was good
at everything during recruit training or provided support for all the
other recruits.”
Now, after her almost 12-year tenure on the
depot, Parris Island's Molly Marine continues to watch over all the
female recruits who step foot on the infamous yellow footprints and
those who march away as Marines. | |
Article and photo by USMC Cpl. J. Nava
Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island
Copyright 2011
Provided
through DVIDS
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