Marines Birthday Celebration at Tankie’s Tavern Formerly Known As Cookie’s Tavern In South Philly!

‘246th Marine Corps Birthday Celebration’

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On November 10, 1775, the Continential Marines were established by the Second Continental Congress. Research indicates that the birthplace of the Corps, as the first place where Marines enlisted, was Tun Tavern in Philadelphia!

In 1781, the Tun Tavern burned down. Its former structure stood at a location now occupied by Interstate 95, where it passes Penn’s Landing. A commemorative marker on the east side of Front Street indicates the site, across from Sansom Walk. (Tun Tavern Marker)

Fast forward to the end of 1969. Sergeant James Wagner, known as Daddy Wags, was a few years out of the Marine Corps, after serving two tours in Vietnam. He would stop into Cookie’s Tavern from time to time, which at the time belonged to his uncle, Bill “Cookie” Cook. The bar was located in South Philly, near the corner of 10 Street and Oregon Avenue.

Daddy Wags cousin, Charlie Simpson, happened to walk into the bar on November 10, 1969 and saw Daddy Wags at the end of the bar having a beer. Charlie said, “let’s drink a beer to the Marines’ birthday.” After that beer, they agreed that they should do this again, but tell more people about it.

So, it went from two, to ten, to one-hundred, and now over 1,500 people. In 1977, Wagner bought the bar, keeping the name in honor of his uncle, and officially declaring the birthday party as an annual event.

Sergeant James “Daddy Wags” Wagner passed away on November 02, 2002. The bar was left to his daughter, Marion Wagner, who continued the tradition that her dad started with the help of many. Salvatore DiNubile then bought the bar in 2017 and still continues the tradition! The rest of the story on Daddy Wags, Cookie’s Tavern and Celebrating the Marines’ birthday, click here.

Colonel Harvey C. “Barney” Barnum, former deputy assistant Secretary of the Navy and a Medal of Honor recipient, had this to say about Sergeant Wagner: 

Jim “Daddy Wags” Wagner was the kind of guy who, if there was a pothole in the church parking lot, he’d pay for it to be filled. There’s not enough room in the biggest mansion to house this man’s heart.

What adds to this event is the fact that Marines and others come from California, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, etc just for the Marines birthday celebration at Cookie’s Tavern.

This video was from the 243rd Marines Birthday Celebration in 2018 with Billboard Hot 100 Recording Artist and Broadway Star Doreen Taylor, who sang the National Anthem!

The Story Behind The Name Change From Cookie’s Tavern To Tankie’s Tavern

The owner of the former Cookie’s Tavern, Salvatore DiNubile, who bought the bar in 2017, recently changed the name to Tankie’s Tavern in early March of 2021. Here is the story to why it was changed.

Samantha and Salvatore DiNubile lost their son Salvatore “Tankie” DiNubile Jr (photo above) at the age of 16, who was shot to death on October 24, 2017.  Sal and his partner Chris Imperato had bought Cookie’s Tavern about a month prior to when Sal lost his son. Sal was also a bartender at Cookie’s Tavern for 20 years. 

From Samantha and Sal DiNubile:

Together, we continued the tradition of honoring the Marines and left the bar untouched to preserve the memories that were displayed within those walls and on them. However, over time, it became apparent that it would be necessary to evolve with the changes taking place and redo the bar. 

There are things my husband and I have learned during this tragic journey that we have to endure. There is no greater change in one’s life than not having your child physically here with you. We chose to change the name to honor our son, Salvatore “Tankie” DiNubile and all that stands for! Bravery, loyalty, and honor. A love so fierce, he pierced your soul. His presence was larger than life. He impacted everyone he met, and left a lasting impression. He was killed for being brave, for sacrificing himself for others, for being loyal, and standing up for all of his beliefs. His name should be illuminated across the sky, as this is the only glimmer of light left in our lives.

Tankie’s Tavern will be a place of remembrance and honor. We will continue to honor the Marines, along with all of those who sacrificed their safety for ours and those who continue to sacrifice their lives! Moving forward, we still want Tankie’s Tavern to be a special gathering place to honor all heroes who served and who have fallen. We will celebrate their bravery and be a voice and a platform for their sacrifice. 

There are no greater words than a grieving parents to honor a child’s loss, and there is no greater honor than to honor those who have gone before us, and there is no measure of strength that is comparable to the amount of resilience necessary to continue living. Tankie’s Tavern will be that special place for all of the above. Tankie’s Tavern will be a place of loss, of honor, of strength, and a testament to the resilience within each of us. 

Thank you for your continued support and for always remembering our Tankie! 

Sal stated that they will continue to have Cookie’s Tavern’s merchandise to purchase at the Marines Birthday Celebration, as well as merchandise with Tankie’s Tavern on it. 

He also said,

November 10th, Tankie’s Tavern will be known as Cookie’s Tavern, in honor of the Marines Birthday! We’ll have a Cookie’s Sign out front as well, and as stated, Cookie’s Tavern merchandise. Thanks for everyone’s support!

Special Attractions At Birthday Celebration

• • • Special Birthday Ceremony starting at 1 pm
    • Mia Johnson will be singing the National Anthem
    • Live music from Hickstown Road band
    • Live music from The Juliano Brothers
    • DJ Kevin Consolo playing later in the day & at night
    • The Leathernecks MC / Tun Tavern Chapter will ride into Cookie’s before the 1 pm Ceremony

Ceremony will be at 1 pm:

Honor Guard
MC is Tom Lamaine (former CBS 3 weatherman)
Singing of our National Anthem by Mia Johnson. You can follow her on Twitter as well at @MiaJawnsonMusic
Commandants Message
Special Guest: Gold Star father Mr. Charles Stranger. His son, Petty Officer First Class Michael Strange, was a member of Seal Team 6 on the Bin Laden raid, who was KIA on August 6, 2011 while on a Chinook helicopter that crashed in Wardak province, Afghanistan. 
Councilman At Large David Oh will be presenting the Proclamation 
Letter from Colonel Barney Barnum (MOH)
Toys for Tots drop off bins
Cake cutting ceremony with the youngest and oldest Marine present
Oldest & Youngest Marine
Sign in book to help find other Marines
Jeff Belonger to talk about veteran suicides, outreach organizations & a special Veterans Fundraiser for the month of November for Paws Healing Heroes & Paws Healing Heroes on Facebook – A veteran’s non-profit training service dogs so they can give them to Veterans for free! – stay tuned to details
Chris Simrak to talk about helpful Veteran organizations, helplines & veteran suicide

Part of the proceeds from the event will go to Toys for Tots of Philadelphia! You can also bring toys or cash to donate as well!

Special Guest

Gold Star father Mr. Charles Stranger will be part of the ceremony and giving a speech. His son, Petty Officer First Class Michael Strange of Philadelphia, was a member of Seal Team 6 on the Bin Laden raid. Petty Officer First Class Michael Stranger was KIA on August 6, 2011 while on a Chinook helicopter, call sign Extortion 17, crashed in Wardak province, Afghanistan.

Besides Strange, 14 other members of SEAL Team 6, two pilots and a three-man crew inside Extortion 17: ten other Navy and Air Force personnel, seven Afghan Commandos, one Afghan interpreter and a combat assault dog named Bart were all killed on the Chinook. A Taliban fighter shot the helicopter out of the sky with a rocket-propelled grenade and all aboard were killed—the single greatest loss of American life in the Afghan war.

Cookie’s Tavern Marines Birthday Celebration 2017 – Photo by Jeff Belonger

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Special Packages at Marines Birthday Celebration (click here for details)

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Cookies Drawstring Bag includes: (Click Here for Package Bracelets )

● Wrist Band for beer
● Food
● Cookie’s Hat
● Cookie’s Plastic Beer Stein
● 246th T-Shirt
● Magnet

For $60, you can get a Marines celebration t-shirt and a wristband for beer and food! And there will be t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, hats and more on sale as well. For $35, you get a beer and food bracelet. The event is rain or shine.

Cookies Tavern’s other merchandise for the Marines Birthday Celebration: Click Here ~ (will be updated by November 1st)
Hotel Information: Click Here 

This special birthday celebration is open to the public & all branches of the military!

Veterans Day is November 11!

Video From November 10, 2019 By Patrick J. Hughes – Philadelphia Singer Mia Johnson Sings the National Anthem

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HOTEL INFO

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Marines Birthday Celebration At Cookie’s Tavern

Location

Cookie’s Tavern aka Tankie’s Tavern
2654 S Alder St (corner of 10th St & Oregon Ave)
Philadelphia, PA 19148

Date

November 10, 2021 (Wednesday)  | Rain or Shine

Time

10:00 am – 10:00 pm outside  |  Bar will stay open until 2:00 am

Ceremony  |  Approximately at 1:00 pm

Cost

Free to Attend  |  Beer & Food Packages $60 (beer & food with goodies bag – described above) $35 (beer & food only)  |  Click Here for Package Bracelets

Web Site (Links Coming Soon)

• Cookies Tavern Marines Birthday Celebration Facebook Event Page 
• Cookie’s Tavern Packages
• Hotel Information & Packages

Photos Courtesy of Jeff Belonger for MyPhillyAlive