Department of Mass

Welcome to Massachusetts

The official name of the State of Massachusetts is the "Commonwealth of Massachusetts", but it is often referred to simply as "The Commonwealth." Massachusetts is ranked 14th in the U.S. in population with 6,587,536 residents and is the third most densely populated of the 50 states. Massachusetts features two separate metropolitan areas: Greater Boston in the east and Springfield in the west. Boston is the state capital and largest city in Massachusetts, with a population of 609,023, and the Greater Boston metropolis has a poplation of 4,522,858 making it the 10th largest metropolitan area in the nation. Massachusetts is the most populous of the six New England states and has the U.S.'s sixth highest GDP per capita.

There are 50 cities and 301 towns in Massachusetts, grouped in 14 counties. The counties moving from west to east are Berkshire County, Franklin County, Hampshire County, Hampden County, Worcester County, Middlesex County, Essex County, Suffolk County, Norfolk County, Bristol County, Plymouth County, Barnstable County, Dukes County and Nantucket County. Massachusetts is the 7th smallest state in the U.S., with an area of 10,555 square miles. It is 183 miles wide and 113 miles long. Currently, forests cover around 65% of the state. Massachusetts has played a significant historical, cultural and commercial role in American history.

Massachusetts is home to 121 institutions of higher education. Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), both located in Cambridge, consistantly rank among the world's best universities. In addition, Tufts University (29th), Boston College (31st) and Brandeis University (31st) rank in the top 40. Among the liberal arts colleges, three of the top ten are in Massachusetts, with Williams College (1st), Amherst College (2nd) and Wellesley College (6th). Others in the top 40 are Smith College (19th), Holy Cross (29th) and Mount Holyoke (29th). The public University of Massachusetts (UMASS) features 5 campuses in the state, with its flagship campus in Amherst, which enrolls 25,000 students. Massachusetts is also home to the country's oldest public elementary school (The Mather School) founded in 1639, the oldest high school (Boston Latin) founded in 1635, the oldest boarding school (The Governor's Academy) founded in 1763, the oldest college (Harvard University) founded in 1636 and the oldest women's college (Mount Holyoke) founded in 1837.

The state flag displays on both sides, the coat of arms centered on a blue shield. The shield depicts an Algonquian Native American with a bow and arrow, the arrow is pointed down, signifying peace. The arm itself is the Goliad symbol signifying the philosophy that those represented would rather lose their right arm than live under tyranny. A white star with five points appears next to the figure's head representing Massachusetts' admission as the 6th U.S. state. A blue ribbon surrounds the shield bearing the state motto:

Ense Petit Placidam, Sub Libertate Quietem

"By the Sword We Seek Peace, But Peace Only Under Liberty"

Above the shield is the state military crest; the bent arm of Myles Standish holding a broadsword aloft. The sword has it's blade up, to remind everyone that it was through the American Revolution that liberty was won.

The state has several nicknames including The Baked Bean State, The Codfish State, The Bay State, The Pilgrim State and The Old Colony State. The state bird is the black-capped chickadee, the state flower is the Mayflower and the state tree is the American Elm.

The Olympic sports of Basketball and Volleyball were invented in Western Massachusetts (Springfield and Holyoke, respectively). The Basketball Hall of Fame, a shrine to the sport's history, is a major tourist destination in the city of Springfield. The Volleyball Hall of Fame is located in Holyoke.

Massachusetts has a long history with amateur athletics and professional teams. Most of the major professional teams have won multiple championships in their respective leagues. Massachusetts teams have won 6 Stanley Cups (Boston Bruins), 17 NBA Championships (Boston Celtics), 3 Super Bowls (New England Patriots) and 8 World Series (7 Boston Red Sox, 1 Boston Braves).

The American Hockey League (AHL) is headquartered in Springfield. The other professional sports teams in Massachusetts include the Springfield Falcons (AHL), Worcester Sharks (AHL) and the Springfield Armor (NBA Development League). Massachusetts is also the home of the Cape Cod Baseball League, The Boston Marathon, The New England Revolution (Major League Soccer), The Boston Cannons (Major League Lacrosse) and the Boston Breakers (Women's Professional Soccer). There have been 9 U.S. Opens and 2 Ryder Cups played in Massachusetts.

 

Marine Corps History

3 May 1898: Lt. Dion Williams and Marines from the USS Baltimore raised the American flag over Cavite, Philippines.

4 May 1942: Marines participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea during World War II.

5 May 1919: HQMC moved into the new Navy Building on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C.

5 May 1961: Marine pilots retrieved America's first astronaut, Navy Commander Alan Shepard.

6 May 1937: Marines at NAS, Lakehurst, New Jersey, helped rescue survivors of the Hindenburg disaster.

6 May 1942: The colors of the 4th Marine Regiment were burned to avoid capture on Corregidor.

7 May 1942: The 8th Defense Battalion (reinforced) landed on Wallis Island from Tutuila Island.

8 May 1808: Marine Barracks, Charleston was established under Lt. Pinckney and 22 Marines.

8 May 1995: In the wake of the most devastating storm to hit the New Orleans area in more than 200 years, a group of Marines and sailors from Marine Forces Reserve demonstrated the quick response synonymous with the Navy/Marine Corps team. Within 24 hours of being called, Marines assisted in the evacuation of 2,500 civilians, and Navy corpsmen treated scores of flood victims.

9 May 1846: Lt. Archibald Gillespie delivered a presidential message to Capt. John C.J. Fremont in Oregon.

10 May 1845: Marines and Sailors of the USS Constitution landed at Tourane, Cochin China, (later known as Da Nang, Vietnam).

10 May 1945: The 22nd Marines, 6th Marine Division, executed a pre-dawn attack south across the Asa River Estuary and seized a bridgehead from which to continue the attack toward Naha, the capital of Okinawa.

11 May 1920: The 16th Marine Regiment organized at Philadelphia for duty in Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

12 May 1975: Marines were alerted for rescue of the Mayaguez crew and assault on Koh Tang Island, Cambodia.

13 May 1846: War was declared against Mexico.

14 May 1917: The first Marine detachment transferred from Annapolis to a new Marine post called Quantico.

14 May 1919: Marines from the USS Arizona landed at Constantinople to secure the American consulate.

15 May 1862: Corporal John Mackie, the first Marine to earn the Medal of Honor, was commended for service on the USS Galena during action against Confederate shore batteries at Drewry's Bluff which blocked the James River approaches to Richmond.

16 May 1945: The 22nd and 29th Marines continued the attack against Half Moon Hill, a day characterized by the 6th Marine Division as the "bitterest" of the Okinawa campaign. By the 18th, the famed "Shuri Line" had been breached.

17 May 1962: The 3rd MEU landed in Thailand, easing communist pressure.

18 May 1902: Marines from the USS Ranger landed in Panama City to protect Americans.

19 May 1927: The 11th Marine regiment arrived at Esteli, Nicaragua, for garrison duty.

20 May 1803: Marines participated in the raid on Tripoli.

20 May 1906: Major John A. Lejeune embarked his battalion for duty in Panama.

21 May 1846: A Marine regiment formed for duty with General Winfield Scott's Army in Mexico.

22 May 1912: Lieutenant Alfred A. Cunningham became the first Marine officer assigned to aviation duty at Annapolis, Maryland.

23 May 1988: The V-22 Osprey, the world's first production tilt-rotor aircraft, made its debut during rollout ceremonies at Bell Helicopter Textron's Arlington, Texas facility.

24 May 1900: Marines landed at Taku, China to establish Legation Guard at Peking.

25 May 1853: Major Jacob Zeilin (in charge of Marines) arrived with Commodore Matthew C. Perry's squadron at Okinawa.

26 May 1969: Operation Pipestone Canyon began when the 1st Battalion, 26th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines began sweeps in the Dodge City/Go Noi areas southwest of Da Nang. It terminated at the end of June with 610 enemy killed in action at a cost of 34 Marines killed.

27 May 1803: Marines aboard the USS John Adams engaged Tripolitan gunboats of Tripoli.

28 May 1945: The 5th Marine Regiment began the final assault against Shuri Castle, Okinawa.

29 May 1944: The 4th Marine Division sailed from Pearl Harbor for Saipan Operation.

30 May 1873: 68 Marines from the USS Ohio and USS Powhatan restored order after a fire in Boston.

31 May 1900: Marines guarded the Peking Diplomatic Quarters during the Boxer Rebellion.