Happy Birthday, Marines!

The 249th Marine Corps Birthday

Each year, on November 10th, Marines around the world honor the founding of our Corps. This day is special to us not just because it marks the Corps' birth but also because it brings every Marine—past and present—together in spirit, no matter where we are.

Whenever two Marines meet on the Corps' birthday, there's an unspoken understanding. No matter the rank, time served, or years since wearing the uniform, we celebrate the day together. It might be a simple handshake, a "Happy Birthday, Marine," or a toast to honor our Corps.

I have celebrated the Marine Corps Birthday in places ranging from fancy ballrooms to barren wilderness, from fieldhouses to amphibious shipping afloat. I once climbed a mountain in the Austrian Alps with another Marine, carrying two cupcakes and a General Lejeune’s message. Phil and I attended a Marine Corps Ball together with our wives some 30+ years ago while stationed together at a Fleet Intelligence Center.

It has become customary for the Commandant to relea…