Special Feature

246 Years of Marines

November 9, 2021

The USMC celebrates 246 years of service to its nation

On November 10, 2021, Marines across the globe will recognize and acknowledge 246 years of service to their country, the sacrifices made to defend democracy, and the Marine Corps’ enduring legacy as...

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November 10, 2021

A MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS

On 10 November 1970, Commandant Chapman challenged all Marines, active and inactive, young and old, deployed or recently returned from combat, "not to look back, but instead, to look to the future."...

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The 248th Marine Corps Birthday Message
Communication Directorate
Oct. 27, 2023 | 9:06
The 248th Marine Corps Birthday Message
Communication Directorate
Oct. 27, 2023 | 9:06
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The 248th Marine Corps Birthday Message
The 247th Marine Corps Birthday Message
The 246th Marine Corps Birthday Message
Commandant of the Marine Corps Presents 246th Cake Cutting Ceremony
U.S. Marines share a bottle of cognac from 1942 during a 246th Marine Corps Birthday Ball and Last of the First Salute ceremony at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa, Carlsbad, California, Nov. 6, 2021. Marines with 1st Marine Division, past and present, gathered to celebrate the anniversary of the Marine Corps. During the celebration, World War II veterans opened a bottle of cognac called the "Last Man's" bottle, which they had saved since WWII. The bottle was intended to be opened by the last surviving Marine from the Battle of Guadalcanal. Due to the declining number of Marines from the battle, the bottle was opened 77 years later and shared with the Marines in attendance at the ball.
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jorge Aguilar, a network administrator assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz, eats a piece of cake during a cake cutting ceremony held on Naval Communications Telecommunications Station Guam, Nov. 10, 2021. MCB Camp Blaz held the ceremony to honor the Marine Corps 246th birthday. During the formal cake cutting ceremony, a piece of cake is given to the oldest Marine present, who then passes it to the youngest Marine present, signifying the passing of knowledge, traditions and responsibilities between the two generations.
U.S. Marine LtCol Andrew D’Ambrogi, the commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, leads The Wake Island Avengers, Royal Navy Sailors and Royal Marines during a motivational 2.11 mile, 246th Birthday run on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth in the Gulf of Aden on November 10, 2021. VMFA-211 has been deployed as part of the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group 21. The success of this deployment demonstrates that the United States and the UK are united in our efforts to ensure security and freedom of the seas, that our maritime power projection capabilities are interoperable, complementary, and global.
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Tom Evans, a World War II veteran, speaks with a Marine from the 1st Marine Division color guard during a 246th Marine Corps Birthday Ball and Last of the First Salute ceremony at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa, Carlsbad, California, Nov. 6, 2021. Marines with 1st MARDIV, past and present, gathered to celebrate the anniversary of the Marine Corps. During the celebration, WWII veterans opened a bottle of cognac called the "Last Man's" bottle, which they had saved since WWII. The bottle was intended to be opened by the last surviving Marine from the Battle of Guadalcanal. Due to the declining number of Marines from the battle, the bottle was opened 77 years later and shared with the Marines in attendance at the ball.
The Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade color guard waits for the start of the TF 51/5 Marine Corps birthday cake cutting ceremony in Bahrain, Nov. 9. TF 51/5 hosted a ceremony honoring the Marine Corps 246th birthday.
Marines with Marine Forces Reserve take part in the Marine Corps birthday run at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans, Nov. 9, 2021. MARFORRES is running a combined total of 246 miles over the course of three days to celebrate the 246th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps.
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Jorge L. Ortiz, (right), sergeant major, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, Marine Aircraft Group 31, observes Capt. Zachery Ybarra, (left), adjutant, VMFAT-501, MAG 31, cut the Marine Corps Birthday cake, during VMFAT-501’s cake-cutting ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, Nov. 5, 2021. The cake-cutting is a long-standing tradition where Marines worldwide celebrate the birth of the United States Marine Corps.
U.S. Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Force, Information Group participate in the Cake Cutting Ceremony to celebrate Marine Corps’ 246th birthday on November 5, 2021 at Camp Lejeune N.C. Each year, U.S. Marines and sailors celebrate the Marine Corps’ birthday and honor the traditions and history of the corps.
U.S. Marines with Bravo Company, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, bow their heads in prayer as part of the color guard during a ceremonial ball celebrating the Marine Corps’ 246th birthday on Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 28, 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the service members of H&S Battalion had not celebrated the Marine Corps birthday ball since 2019. The USMC birthday ball is a celebration of tradition that represents where the Marine Corps started, where it is now, and allows a glimpse of the past, present, and future.
Marines with Marine Corps Recruiting Command march on the cake during the Cake Cutting Ceremony for the 246th Marine Corps Birthday at the Clubs of Quantico, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA, on November 4, 2021. The Cake Cutting Ceremony is an annual tradition representing an annual renewal of each Marines commitment to the Corps, and The Corps’ commitment to passing on knowledge and tradition from one generation to the next.
Major Gen. Jason Q. Bohm, Marine Corps Recruiting Command, Commanding General, cuts the cake during the Cake Cutting Ceremony for the 246th Marine Corps Birthday at the Clubs of Quantico, Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA, on November 4, 2021.The Cake Cutting Ceremony is an annual tradition representing an annual renewal of each Marines commitment to the Corps, and The Corps’ commitment to passing on knowledge and tradition from one generation to the next.