US Marine Corps marks its 251st birthday with ceremonies worldwide
The gist
The US Marine Corps turns 251 on Nov. 10, with cake cuttings and birthday messages worldwide.
The date also marks 20 years of the museum that keeps the Corps' history.
How it unfolded
- Nov 10, 1775The Continental Congress resolves to raise two battalions of Marines, marking the Corps' establishment; tradition says recruiting started at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia.
- 1798After a brief disbanding following the Revolutionary War, Congress permanently re-establishes the Corps.
- 1921Maj. Gen. John A. Lejeune, the 13th commandant, first issues his birthday message.
Key terms
- Continental Congress
- A series of legislative bodies that served as the provisional government of the Thirteen Colonies and the early United States during the Revolutionary War era.
- Revolutionary War
- The armed conflict in which American Patriot forces defeated the British Army and won independence for the Thirteen Colonies.
- commandant
- The highest-ranking officer of the U.S. Marine Corps, a four-star general who advises civilian leaders and administers the service.
Source: Wikipedia