Happy Birthday USMC

For those of you that are not aware, United States Marine Corps was founded on Nov 10, 1775, and Marines still celebrate this date today, after 234 years. Today, all around the world Marines will gather to hear a letter written in 1921 by Major General John A. Lejeune, Commandant of the Marine Corps, ordering Marines to take a moment every year to honor the birthday of the Corps. At many of these gatherings, there will be a cake, and by tradition, the first slice of cake is given to the oldest Marine present, who in turn hands it off to the youngest Marine present- symbolizing the old and experienced Marines passing their knowledge to the new generation of Marines. However, in some of the gatherings today, there will be no cake. Somewhere today a Marine is keeping peace in Iraq or searching for an enemy in Afghanistan and won't get the opportunity to share in this tradition. Nevertheless, he will likely take at least a moment of his day in honor of the Corps and the men and women that have his back.

Thank you for your committment to our country and to the Corps, and I pray that next year you are well, and able to celebrate again.

(From Major General Lejeune's letter, November 1921)

"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."

God bless you.... carry on.