NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- U.S. Marines visited Nashville, Tennessee, from June 1 to 7, 2025, to host Marine Week Nashville in honor of the Corps’ 250 years of service.
“Marine Week Nashville has been helping strengthen bonds with the American people,” said U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Destiny Miller, a maintenance management clerk with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion. “We’ve been having really good interactions with civilians here and we’re able to give back to the community. We’ve got a lot of volunteer events going on and I’ve really enjoyed being part of it.”
Throughout the week, the Marines celebrated the Corps' legacy and ongoing role in protecting and serving the nation. The event gave the public an opportunity to meet Marines from across the country, hear their stories, and experience a small piece of what it means to be a Marine.
"Marine Week is a way for the Corps to reach the communities. Those who have gone before us, we want to celebrate them. We want to bring them out and show them off to the public. Show that they live and work and lead amongst them." Sgt. Maj. Carlos Ruiz, the 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
For the Marines, the week was more than a celebration—it was a chance to give back. True to the motto "Semper Fidelis," Marines engaged with local communities, strengthening ties through outreach, volunteer efforts, and collaborations with veterans’ organizations.
Unity in Service & Care
Photo by Lance Cpl. Kiara Rawls
U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Hope Nelson, planning officer with the 2d Combat Engineer Battalion, Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 250, takes a photo at the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System during Marine Week Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee, June 3, 2025. Founded on November 10, 1775, the United States Marine Corps has served our nation honorably in every clime and place for 250 years. Throughout 2025, Marines across the globe will celebrate the 250th birthday of the Corps, commemorating service, sacrifice, and priding themselves on living ‘Semper Fidelis’ or ‘Always Faithful’ to their nation and to each other.
“I think it’s perfect that the Marines are here,” said Destiny Moore, the membership coordinator at the Fairview Boys and Girls Club, where Marines participated in a volunteer event. “We have older members who don’t know what they wanna do, so I think it’s awesome giving them opportunities to ask questions. The kids wanna do whatever they see the Marines doing.”
The Silent Drill Platoon, color guard, and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band performed at the pre-race for the NASCAR Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 at the Nashville Superspeedway, the Folds of Honor Tennessee Rock n’ Jock Celebrity Softball Game at First Horizon Park, and the Civic Plaza 250th Ceremony at the Murfreesboro City Hall.
“The ability to leave an impact on our youth and our veterans here in Nashville is special,” said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Ford Higgins, platoon commander for the Silent Drill Platoon, Marine Barracks Washington. “This state is great. It’s the Volunteer State. It’s a patriotic state. They understand the sacrifice of service and we appreciate that. They have been so welcoming to us, and we’ve loved our time here in Nashville.”
As the week ended, the spirit of service remained strong in both the Marines and the Nashville community. By honoring the past, celebrating the present, and inspiring the future, Marine Week Nashville 2025 served as a powerful reminder of the lasting bond between the Marine Corps and the nation it serves.
“There’s a sense of pride that the Marine Corps puts in you,” said U.S. Navy veteran Thurman “Doc” Mullins, who served as a corpsman with the 1st Marine Division in the Vietnam War. “To the whole Marine Corps, 250 years of Semper Fidelis, happy birthday.”