General Louis W. Wilson, CMC on the occasion marking the U.S. Marine Corps Birthday, November 10, 1978, at Camp LeJeune, NC. in the presence of several thousand Marine and their ladies arose to deliver his long awaited address to the troops. He approached the dais, nodded to the CG's present and said that his address would be brief. With glass in hand, he turned to his wife and amid absolute dead silence, offered this Toast-and promptly sat down.

"THE WONDERFUL LOVE OF A BEAUTIFUL MAID,
THE LOVE OF A STAUNCH, TRUE MAN,
THE LOVE OF A BABY, UNAFRAID,
HAVE EXISTED SINCE TIME BEGAN.

BUT THE GREATEST OF LOVES,
THE QUINTESSENCE OF LOVES,
EVEN GREATER THAN THAT OF A MOTHER,
IS THE TENDER, PASSIONATE, INFINITE LOVE,
OF ONE DRUNKEN MARINE FOR ANOTHER."