235 Years of Honor, Courage, and Commitment
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Happy Birthday US Marine Corps!
Today, on November 10, United States Marine Corps celebrates its 235th birthday. On that day, in 1775 in Philadelphia, Captain Samuel Nicholas formed two battalions of Continental Marines. These battalions fought the British in the American Revolutionary War and were disbanded when the war ended in 1783.
The institution, however, was resurrected in 1798 and assigned to fight in a conflict with France. Since then, the mission of the Marine Corps has evolved with the changing military doctrine and the trends in American foreign policy.
In 1883, the Marines adopted a Latin motto “Semper Fidelis,” which means “always faithful.” The Marine Corps motto is known by most people in its the shortened form “Semper Fi.”
The Marine Corps has served in every American armed conflict and attained prominence in the 20th century when its theories and practices of amphibious warfare proved prescient and ultimately formed the cornerstone of the Pacific campaign of World War II.
By the mid-20th century, the Marine Corps had become the dominant theorist and practitioner of amphibious warfare. Its ability to rapidly respond on short notice to expeditionary crises gives it a strong role in the implementation and execution of American foreign policy.
Each year, on November 10th, Marines all over the world celebrate the birth of the Corps. Marines and their wives go to balls, with a formal cake-cutting ceremony and a solemn reading of Gen. John A. Lejeune’s birthday message, summarizing the history, mission, and traditions of the Marine Corps. The country is reminded of the valor, pride, and honor of the United States Marines.
Today, the Marine Corps' values of honor, courage, and commitment remain as strong as ever and Marines deployed all over the world uphold these values as they sacrifice their lives every day to defend the freedom and the Country. The few. The proud. They fight so that the rest of us can sleep in peace.
Happy Birthday Brave Men! And Women!
P.S.
This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we who are Marines today have received from those who preceded us in the corps. With it we have also received from them the eternal spirit which has animated our corps from generation to generation and has been the distinguishing mark of the Marines in every age. So long as that spirit continues to flourish Marines will be found equal to every emergency in the future as they have been in the past, and the men of our Nation will regard us as worthy successors to the long line of illustrious men who have served as "Soldiers of the Sea" since the founding of the Corps. JOHN A. LEJEUNE, Major General Commandant
For more information about the US Marine Corps please click here
P.S.
This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we who are Marines today have received from those who preceded us in the corps. With it we have also received from them the eternal spirit which has animated our corps from generation to generation and has been the distinguishing mark of the Marines in every age. So long as that spirit continues to flourish Marines will be found equal to every emergency in the future as they have been in the past, and the men of our Nation will regard us as worthy successors to the long line of illustrious men who have served as "Soldiers of the Sea" since the founding of the Corps. JOHN A. LEJEUNE, Major General Commandant
For more information about the US Marine Corps please click here