US Marine Corps Marks 249th Anniversary of Service and Sacrifice
The U.S. Marine Corps is celebrating its 249th birthday on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, marking the founding of the Continental Marines on this day in 1775 during the Revolutionary War. This milestone makes the Marine Corps older than the United States itself, as it is the third-oldest branch of the U.S. military.
The Marines specialize in land, sea, and air operations and are known for being "the first in and last out" in combat situations. The official anniversary commemorates the establishment of the first Marine Corps recruiting office at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia by Captain Samuel Nicholas, who was seeking "a few good men."
The Marine Corps, one of the smallest branches of the military, recruited about 28,000 members in its most recent class. While it was disbanded after the Revolutionary War, the Marine Corps was re-established in 1798 and has remained an integral part of U.S. military operations ever since.
To mark the occasion, the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia, introduced new exhibits, including "Forward Deployed" and "Afghanistan and Iraq," which reflect the Corps' history from the end of the Vietnam War to the present day. The annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball took place on Nov. 2 in New Orleans, and the celebration also precedes Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
Read More: Ukraine’s First Assault on North Korean Troops: New Information Revealed
