Honorary Marine

"The Honorary Marine" title reinforces the special bond between the American people and the Corps by recognizing individuals in the civilian community who have made extraordinary contributions to the Marine Corps.
The title Marine is a revered designation that affords a special distinction to those who earn it. Therefore, only the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) can officially designate an individual as an "Honorary Marine." For additional information on this program, click here.

Briana Menendez

Briana Menendez gives a high five to the Mayor of Fort Worth, Mayor Michael J. Moncrief, moments after she is made an Honorary Marine during a ceremony at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base here Jan. 25.Briana Menendez gives a high five to the Mayor of Fort Worth, Mayor Michael J. Moncrief, moments after she is made an Honorary Marine during a ceremony at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base here Jan. 25. Read More Here

Frank DeAngelis

LINCROFT, New Jersey - Using rulers and measuring blocks for added precision, Frank DeAngelis, a former sailor and World War II veteran who has dedicated his free time over the past 40 years to making shadow boxes for service members, creates a shadow box for a Marine who was killed in action while serving in Iraq. DeAngelis has a shadow box workstation in the basement of his Lincroft, N.J., home and has made well over 1,000 shadow boxes for fellow service members and fallen service members over the past 40 years. He was named Honorary Marine July 30 for the hundreds of shadow boxes he has made for Marines. (Photo Sgt. Michael S. Cifuentes)

Rodriguez Group

PHOENIX, Arizona - Marines from Recruiting Station Phoenix pose with 16-year-old Eleazar Rodriguez, one of the Corps’ newest “Honorary Marines,” during a presentation ceremony Sept. 27, 2008, in Phoenix. Rodriguez was presented a bon-a-fide certificate by Col. Mark Toal, commanding officer, 8th Marine Corps District. Rodriguez is one of the few individuals to receive the coveted Honorary Marine title, a title which only the Commandant of the Marine Corps has the authority to approve. (Photo by Sgt. Ashley L. Unfried-Snipes)

Honorary Marine

WASHINGTON - Gen. James T. Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, designated Father Peter F. Vasko an "Honorary Marine" Dec. 12, 2008, during a ceremony at the Pentagon.

Honorary Marine

BELLEAU, France - Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James T. Conway presents Gilles Lagin, Belleau Wood historian, with a certificate recognizing him as an Honorary Marine at the Bulldog Fountain in Belleau, France, May 25. Lagin becomes one of a few non-U.S. citizens to earn the title honorary Marine for his life-long dedication to preserving the history of the Marines who fought in Belleau Wood during World War I.

Former Sailor Earns New Title
Hobby helps him do it
October 28, 2009

Many veterans support the military long after their service is complete. Lance Cpl. A.J. Lugo takes us to a basement in small-town New Jersey, to show us how one man is still making a difference.

Honorary Marine Designees

2010 BRIANA MENENDEZ
2009 FRANK T. DEANGELIS
2009 JOSEPH E. ROBERTS Jr.
2008 ELEAZAR RODRIGUEZ
2008 FATHER PETER VASCO
2007 DR. RONALD K. LINGLE
2007 GILLES LAGIN
2007 JUDGE LAWRENCE IRVING
2007 ARNOLD FISHER
2006 CHUCK NORRIS
2006 THOMAS A. COTTONE JR.
2006 LESLIE GELB
2006 JOHN INNES
2006 MARY HOWELL
2005 HUNTER BOX
2003 TIMOTHY JOHN RAFE
2003 PETER MURPHY
2003 JOSEPH STEPHENS
2003 DODGE ACKERMAN
2002 GEORGE MURPHY
2002 SHANNON SPANN
2002 ERIC REAMS
2002 ROLAND JABAUT
2002 WILLIAM EDWARDS
2002 GERALD E. DANIELS
2002 SIR MARTIN CLEMENS
2002 GREGORY COLLINS
2002 CLARK & ALICE SEFTON
2002 CAPTAIN GEORGE PUCCIARELLI, USN
2002 RON FRASER
2001 BARBARA WOODBURY
2001 SHINGO ARASAKI
2001 VERNA RESPASS
2001 JIM NABORS
2001 BETTYE DALEY
2001 SENATOR MAX CLELAND
2001 SENATOR DANIEL INOUYE
2001 GALEN MEDINA
2001 EDWARD WALSH
2001 RANDY RANDALL
2001 PATRICK LYNCH
2001 ALEX KAPITANSKI
2001 DR. FELIX DE WELDON
2001 H. LEE DIXON
2001 CARLOS BERRA
2000 ARTHUR GOLDBERG
2000 TSUI CHI HSII
2000 VICTOR GAINOR
2000 BOB KERRY
2000 COREY DEPOOTER
1999 LOGAN GATEWOOD
1999 TYLER WILLIS
1998 SAMUEL ARDITO
1996 THOMAS CAVANAUGH
1996 JOE ROSENTHAL
1995 MICHAEL SWENTON
1994 THOMAS KLOSTERMAN
1994 JEREMY ROGERS
1993 BENJAMIN DEGROOT
1993 DENNIS MUHA
1993 HEATHER HALLOWAY
1992 JASON WHITE
1992 JOHNNY GRANT
1992 JACLYN MCKENNEY
1992 GERALD MAY MCRANEY
1992 JOHN JACOB MOSELY
1992 TROY WOOD

Official U.S. Marine Corps Web Site