Appearing in authentic 1945-1948 Marine Corps dress blues with original regalia, 96-year-old World War II veteran and Marine Raider Cpl. Leonard B. Turner, oldest Marine present, stands next to 19-year-old Pfc. Ivan K. Lopez, the youngest Marine present, during the Marine Forces Special Operations Command’s 244th Marine Corps Birthday Ball in Wilmington, N.C., Nov. 2, 2019. Every year, each Marine Corps unit comes together and hosts a Marine Corps Birthday cake cutting to celebrate one more year since the birth of their Corps. This celebration is an event that brings together Marines, old and young - enlisted and retired, and allows them to celebrate their commitment and dedication to the Marine Corps and strengthen their camaraderie and organizational esprit de corps. This connection between the past and present can be seen throughout many traditions during the Marine Corps ball and is the foundation of this event each year. One such tradition is the passing of birthday cake from the oldest Marine to the youngest Marine, which represents the passing of experience and knowledge from older generations to the newest generation of Marines. The birthday cake is traditionally cut with the Mameluke sword, to honor Lieutenant Presley O’Bannon’s assault of Derna, Tripoli in 1805, as a reminder that Marines are a band of warriors, committed to carrying the sword, so that the nation may live in peace. - Appearing in authentic 1945-1948 Marine Corps dress blues with original regalia, 96-year-old World War II veteran and Marine Raider Cpl. Leonard B. Turner, oldest Marine present, stands next to 19-year-old Pfc. Ivan K. Lopez, the youngest Marine present, during the Marine Forces Special Operations Command’s 244th Marine Corps Birthday Ball in Wilmington, N.C., Nov. 2, 2019. Every year, each Marine Corps unit comes together and hosts a Marine Corps Birthday cake cutting to celebrate one more year since the birth of their Corps. This celebration is an event that brings together Marines, old and young - enlisted and retired, and allows them to celebrate their commitment and dedication to the Marine Corps and strengthen their camaraderie and organizational esprit de corps. This connection between the past and present can be seen throughout many traditions during the Marine Corps ball and is the foundation of this event each year. One such tradition is the passing of birthday cake from the oldest Marine to the youngest Marine, which represents the passing of experience and knowledge from older generations to the newest generation of Marines. The birthday cake is traditionally cut with the Mameluke sword, to honor Lieutenant Presley O’Bannon’s assault of Derna, Tripoli in 1805, as a reminder that Marines are a band of warriors, committed to carrying the sword, so that the nation may live in peace.

From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. William L. Koeppe, career planner, Staff Sgt. Nils A. Aylor II, motor vehicle operator, U.S. Navy Hospitalman third class Josh A. Johnson, 8th Marine Regiment, lay wreaths during the 35th Beirut Memorial Observance Ceremony at the Lejeune Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville, N.C., Oct. 23, 2018. A memorial observance is held on Oct. 23 of each year to remember those lives lost during the terrorist attacks at U.S. Marine Barracks, Beirut, Lebanon and Grenada. - From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. William L. Koeppe, career planner, Staff Sgt. Nils A. Aylor II, motor vehicle operator, U.S. Navy Hospitalman third class Josh A. Johnson, 8th Marine Regiment, lay wreaths during the 35th Beirut Memorial Observance Ceremony at the Lejeune Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville, N.C., Oct. 23, 2018. A memorial observance is held on Oct. 23 of each year to remember those lives lost during the terrorist attacks at U.S. Marine Barracks, Beirut, Lebanon and Grenada.

U.S. Marines with 4th Marine Regiment pose for a photo with the Honorable Sung Y. Kim, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, after a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the fall of Corregidor to the Japanese during World War II on Corregidor, Cavite, May 6, 2017. The ceremony was held to commemorate the Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Filipinos who fought and sacrificed to defend the Philippines during World War II. - U.S. Marines with 4th Marine Regiment pose for a photo with the Honorable Sung Y. Kim, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, after a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the fall of Corregidor to the Japanese during World War II on Corregidor, Cavite, May 6, 2017. The ceremony was held to commemorate the Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Filipinos who fought and sacrificed to defend the Philippines during World War II.

Cpl. Joshua Bettis, an outbound clerk at distribution management office, Henderson Hall, kneels at the grave of his great-great-uncle Army Pfc. Alfred H. Carlton at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville sur Mer, France, May 25, 2016. Carlton died from wounds in the D-Day invasion during World War II in Normandy, France. Bettis was the first person in his family to visit the gravesite. - Cpl. Joshua Bettis, an outbound clerk at distribution management office, Henderson Hall, kneels at the grave of his great-great-uncle Army Pfc. Alfred H. Carlton at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville sur Mer, France, May 25, 2016. Carlton died from wounds in the D-Day invasion during World War II in Normandy, France. Bettis was the first person in his family to visit the gravesite.

Marines from Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall and Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. listen as a French guide at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial explains how American troops landed at Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944, during World War Two in Coleville sur Mer, France, May 25, 2016. The cemetery overlooks Omaha Beach and is the final resting place of more than 9,000 American service members and honors more than 1,500 American service members who are missing in action. - Marines from Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall and Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. listen as a French guide at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial explains how American troops landed at Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944, during World War Two in Coleville sur Mer, France, May 25, 2016. The cemetery overlooks Omaha Beach and is the final resting place of more than 9,000 American service members and honors more than 1,500 American service members who are missing in action.

Marine Raiders currently assigned to Marine Special Operations Company B, 1st Marine Raider Battalion and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command headquarters salute the remains of Sgt. John Holladay, a fallen World War II Marine Raider. During World War II Holladay was assigned to Company B, 1st Marine Raider Battalion, 1st Marine Raider Regiment, who fought in U.S. Marine Corps battles against Japanese positions along the Pacific front, when he was killed in 1943. - Marine Raiders currently assigned to Marine Special Operations Company B, 1st Marine Raider Battalion and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command headquarters salute the remains of Sgt. John Holladay, a fallen World War II Marine Raider. During World War II Holladay was assigned to Company B, 1st Marine Raider Battalion, 1st Marine Raider Regiment, who fought in U.S. Marine Corps battles against Japanese positions along the Pacific front, when he was killed in 1943.

Veterans render a salute after laying wreaths during a Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony at the National World War II Memorial on Dec. 7, 2015, in Washington, D.C. Veterans attended a Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony at the National World War II Memorial. - Veterans render a salute after laying wreaths during a Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony at the National World War II Memorial on Dec. 7, 2015, in Washington, D.C. Veterans attended a Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony at the National World War II Memorial.

Marines with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific salute Cpl. Roger K. Nielson during a dignified transfer of remains at the Honolulu International Airport, Nov. 12, 2015. Nielson was a World War II Marine assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, who was killed during the battle of Tarawa, where more than 18,000 Marines fought and more than 1,000 were killed over three days of fighting. - Marines with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific salute Cpl. Roger K. Nielson during a dignified transfer of remains at the Honolulu International Airport, Nov. 12, 2015. Nielson was a World War II Marine assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, who was killed during the battle of Tarawa, where more than 18,000 Marines fought and more than 1,000 were killed over three days of fighting.

Members of the Marine Corps Historical Company present an Iwo Jima Flag Raising Tableau during the Iwo Jima Commemorative Banquet for the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 7. The evening included a sunset memorial, 21-gun salute, banquet and a video message for veterans from Commandant of the Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford. “Your legacy is the young men and women who use your example of courage and commitment to inspire them to confront and overcome the challenges that they face today … I pledge that today’s Marines will keep the spirit of Iwo Jima alive,” said Dunford. - Members of the Marine Corps Historical Company present an Iwo Jima Flag Raising Tableau during the Iwo Jima Commemorative Banquet for the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., March 7. The evening included a sunset memorial, 21-gun salute, banquet and a video message for veterans from Commandant of the Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford. “Your legacy is the young men and women who use your example of courage and commitment to inspire them to confront and overcome the challenges that they face today … I pledge that today’s Marines will keep the spirit of Iwo Jima alive,” said Dunford.

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Retired Col. James “Rip” Harper (second from left) and Brig. Gen. Patrick Hermesmann, commanding general of 4th Marine Logistics Group (third from left), observe the 6th Engineer Support Battalion’s battle color rededication ceremony in Portland, Ore., Nov. 15, 2014.The battalion celebrated the 70th anniversary of its formation with a rededication ceremony and paid homage to Harper, the battalion’s first adjutant. Harper served as the unit’s first adjutant as a first lieutenant in 1944, when the unit was formed in Guadalcanal during World War II. - Retired Col. James “Rip” Harper (second from left) and Brig. Gen. Patrick Hermesmann, commanding general of 4th Marine Logistics Group (third from left), observe the 6th Engineer Support Battalion’s battle color rededication ceremony in Portland, Ore., Nov. 15, 2014.The battalion celebrated the 70th anniversary of its formation with a rededication ceremony and paid homage to Harper, the battalion’s first adjutant. Harper served as the unit’s first adjutant as a first lieutenant in 1944, when the unit was formed in Guadalcanal during World War II.

Almost 70 years later families, friends, service members and the Honorable Senator Mark R. Warner gathered at the National Museum of the Marine Corps to remember fallen Montford Marine, Cpl. Julius B. Foxx, by awarding his family with the Congressional Gold Medal, Nov. 14. Nearly seven decades ago, as our Nation was at war, more than 2,000 African-American men enlisted in the United States Marine Corps with Foxx being one of many Marines who served with distinction during some of World War II’s bloodiest struggles after completing arduous and segregated basic training at Montford Point Camp. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo By Sgt. Jose D. Lujano/Released) - Almost 70 years later families, friends, service members and the Honorable Senator Mark R. Warner gathered at the National Museum of the Marine Corps to remember fallen Montford Marine, Cpl. Julius B. Foxx, by awarding his family with the Congressional Gold Medal, Nov. 14. Nearly seven decades ago, as our Nation was at war, more than 2,000 African-American men enlisted in the United States Marine Corps with Foxx being one of many Marines who served with distinction during some of World War II’s bloodiest struggles after completing arduous and segregated basic training at Montford Point Camp. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo By Sgt. Jose D. Lujano/Released)

Marines with Combat Logistics Detachment 379 march in the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Peleliu ceremony Sept. 15 at Peleliu Elementary School in the Republic of Palau. The event brought together members of the Palau community, World War II veterans who served in the Battle of Peleliu, elected officials of Palau and representatives the U.S. military to remember the landing that took place 70 years earlier. The Marines with CLD-379 came to the Republic of Palau aboard the USNS Sacagawea as part of T-AKE 14-2, a maritime pre-positioned force, multi-country theater security cooperation event that deploys from Okinawa to conduct training exercises and TSC events. The Marines are from CLD-379, Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines with Combat Logistics Detachment 379 march in the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Peleliu ceremony Sept. 15 at Peleliu Elementary School in the Republic of Palau. The event brought together members of the Palau community, World War II veterans who served in the Battle of Peleliu, elected officials of Palau and representatives the U.S. military to remember the landing that took place 70 years earlier. The Marines with CLD-379 came to the Republic of Palau aboard the USNS Sacagawea as part of T-AKE 14-2, a maritime pre-positioned force, multi-country theater security cooperation event that deploys from Okinawa to conduct training exercises and TSC events. The Marines are from CLD-379, Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.