The Marine Corps Birthday
Happy Birthday Marine Corps!
By Kelcey Petersen
On Nov. 10, 1775, the Continental Congress created the first two battalions of Marines. Every year, celebrations commemorate this date, the birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. On Nov. 1, 1921, Gen. John A. LeJeune issued Marine Corps Order No. 47, Series 1921, which outlined a brief history of the service and its accomplishments, including the date of its inception and the means by which it should be acknowledged. Along with many other, newer traditions, this order is read at all commemorations of the Marine Corps birthday, according to LeJeune’s instructions.
The first Marine Corps Birthday Ball was held in Philadelphia in 1925. High-ranking military personnel and politicians attended the formal event, and a commemorative plaque was unveiled at the Tun Tavern, the place of recruitment for the first battalions. In 1952, Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. formalized the cake-cutting ceremony, a feature of every birthday ball. The first piece of cake is cut and presented to the oldest attending Marine, who then passes it to the youngest.
Today, preparations begin as early as January 1. Events ranging from the Marine Corps Mud Run to sponsored boxing matches raise money and help lower ticket prices, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to participate.
Many other events are held, too. Some commands hold mini-balls for children, with cake ceremonies of their own, making it special for them as their parents prepare for more grown-up events. A pageant of historical uniforms is also traditional. Parades are sometimes held for the public, with the presentation of colors and the playing of the Marines Hymn and Anchors Away.
Try these questions to test your knowledge:
Q: The Marine Corps birthday commemorates the Second Continental Congress of 1775.
A: False. According to LeJeune’s birthday message of 1921, the birthday is to be celebrated every year in memory of the thousands of men having “borne the name ‘Marine.’”
Q: Since its inception in 1775, the Marine Corps has celebrated its birthday in November.
A: False. Before 1921, it was celebrated in the summer, to coincide with President John Adams’ reinstatement of the Marine Corps on July 11, 1798, following the Revolutionary War.
Q: In the cake ceremony held at birthday balls, the passing of the first piece of cake from the oldest Marine to the youngest symbolizes the passing on of experience, knowledge and esprit de corps from one generation to the next.
A: True.
Q: Celebration of the Marine Corps birthday was deemed so important in 1956 that such ceremonies as the cake ceremony and the pageant of uniforms were formalized in the Marine Corps Drill Manual.
A: True. Shepherd ordered these events to be outlined in the manual.
Resources:
www.usmc.mil
www.usmc-thebasicschool-1966.com/lore_articles/genlejeunemessage.htm
www.usmcpress.com/heritage/usmc_heritage.htm