Marines from the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. (8th and I) and the Marine Band, "The President’s Own" and soldiers the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Caisson Detachment. (U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemeter
The Marine Corps celebrates its 251st birthday on Nov. 10, which marks the day when the Continental Marines were founded in 1775 during the Revolutionary War.
The backstory:
The Marine Corps was founded on Nov. 10, 1775 during the Revolutionary War but was then disbanded at the conclusion of the war. Fifteen years later, on July 11, 1798, Congress formally ordered the creation of the Corps as a permanent military service under the Secretary of the Navy. Philadelphia is the birthplace of the Navy and Marine Corps.
Dig deeper:
Older than the United States itself, the Marine Corps is the nation’s third-oldest branch of the military, according to Stripes.com, the U.S. military’s news organization.
The Marine Corps is one of the smallest services of the military with 31,250 new enlisted Marines, alongside 1,672 officers and 3,503 prior-service reserve Marines, according to Stars and Stripes, a military news agency.
Marines specialize in land, sea and air operations, known to be "the first in and last out."
Marines kick off Toys for Tots campaign
Why you should care:
The United States Marine Corps Reserve has kicked up their annual Toys for Tots mission for the holiday season. Founded in 1947, the Toys for Tots program was founded by the Marines as a campaign to collect new, unwrapped toys for the holiday season to deliver them to less fortunate children.
Timeline:
The collection campaign begins every year in October and runs through December.
Nearly 40,000 Marines, Marine Corps League members, veteran Marines and volunteers participate in the annual campaigns.
A message from the commandant of the Marine Corps:
For 251 years, the United States Marine Corps has been our Nation's premier expeditionary force in readiness. Born from the sea and forged in the fires of conflict, Marines have fought, and won, in battles all over the world. From our first amphibious landing 250 years ago at Nassau to the volcanic sands of Iwo Jima, and from the bold invasion of Inchon to the mountains of Afghanistan, we have always marched forward with rifles in hand. The Marines who came before us paved our legacy in sweat and blood. They built a foundation of excellence and proved time and again that Marines remain ready to answer the call.
As we reflect on our proud and illustrious history and commemorate the founding of our Corps, we must take inspiration for the future. We are marching forward, as we always have, to fight and win our Nation's battles in every clime and place. We're preparing every day by innovating and evolving. Through our ingenuity, ruthless adherence to standards, and sheer grit, we continue to demonstrate the unmatched lethality of our expeditionary naval forces.
Today, the operational demand for Marines is high. At this very hour, 40,000 Marines are forward deployed and stationed around the world to secure liberty and to strike when our adversaries test our resolve. Just as always, Marines are ready to go wherever the Nation needs us, whenever it needs us.
Sergeant Major Ruiz and I could not be prouder of your dedication to upholding our legacy as America's Soldiers of the Sea. This is who we are, and we are up to the challenge. We are honored to stand beside you as we prepare for the fights ahead. Happy 251st Birthday, Marines!
The Source: Information in this article was taken from Marines.com, the Marines’ official website, and Stripes,com, the U.S. military’s news organization and previous reporting by Fox Local. This story was reported from Detroit.