By Capt Joseph R. John, November 10, 2019, Op Ed #457

The US Marine Corps was formed on November 10, 1775 by the Second Continental Congress with the first Marines enlisting under Commandant Samuel Nicholas, but it wasn’t until 1921 that the Marine Corps began celebrating that historic day officially as its birthday by reading Marine Corps Orders No. 47 (Series 1921).  

The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Major General John A. Lejeune, issued Order No. 47 on November 1, 1921, and instructed it to be read to the US Marine Corps on the 10th of November, 1921, and thereafter on the 10th of November of every year.  Should the order not be received by the 10th of November, 1921, it should be read upon receipt.

We honor all US Marines not only on this November 10th, the US Marine Corps’ 244th Birthday, but on every day.  Over the last 10 years, 35 of the 123 endorsed Combat Veterans For Congress were elected to Congress, and 36 of those 123 endorsed Combat Veterans For Congress, were US Marines; they are listed on the Endorsements and Alumni pages of our Web site.  

Eight of the 36 US Marines that were endorsed as Combat Veterans For Congress were elected to Congress.  Those US Marines who have served their country in combat as US Marines, and subsequently continued their service to the Republic as members of US House of Representatives are Cong John P. Kline (Col-USMC/Ret), Cong Paul Cook (Col-USMC/Ret), Cong Duncan D. Hunter (Maj-USMCR), Cong Michael Coleman (Maj-USMC), Cong Michael J. Gallagher (Capt-USMC), Cong Steve T. Kuykendall (Capt-USMC),  and Cong Michael Grimm (Sgt-USMC).

The Commandant of the Marine Corps General David H. Berger and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Troy E. Black present the 2019 Marine Corps birthday message.  The following video posted on YouTube celebrates the US Marine Corps’ 244thBirthday, but is not officially from the Commandant of the US Marine Corps. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYi5mUKDrA0

Happy Birthday Marines!  Semper Fidelis.

Copyright by Capt Joseph R. John. All Rights Reserved.  The material can only posted on another Web site or distributed on the Internet by giving full credit to the author.  It may not be published, broadcast, or rewritten without the permission from the author.