Happy 241st Birthday to “The Few, The Proud, The Marines!”

As a proud U.S. Marine, I was reminded by the 37^th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, General Robert B. Neller, in his Birthday Message, that “we are Marines for Life.” It is in that spirit that I say to my fellow Marines, “Happy Birthday!” as we celebrate the 241st birthday of our Corps.

Commandant Neller reminds us that in 1775, when the Continental Congress established the Marine Corps, that “a culture of discipline, vigilance, professionalism, and military excellence was born that has characterized our Corps for nearly two and a half centuries.” He points out that this year marks “241 years of uncommon valor, innovation, and combat excellence,” in the service of our country.

“Each year on or around 10 November, Marines gather in groups large and small to celebrate our history, honor the memory of those who have gone before us, and rekindle the bond that unites all generations of Marines. …We are part of something bigger than any of us could imagine… part of an elite family of warriors. For the rest of your life, the first term people use to describe you will be ‘Marine,’” he continued.

Semper Fi and Happy Birthday, to the “The Few, The Proud The Marines!”