United States Marine Corps Celebrates 246th birthday

On Nov. 10, The United States Marine Corps will celebrate it’s 246th birthday. The date commemorates the establishment of the Continental Marines. Each year since 1925, the date has been celebrated with a Birthday Ball and has become one of the largest social events of the year for mariners around the globe.

According to mca-marines.org, “The United States Marine Corps, a branch of the United States Armed Forces, is responsible for providing power protection from the sea. They use the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. The Continental Congress first established the Continental Marines on November 10, 1775, leading up to the American Revolution. Two battalions of Marines fought for independence both on land and at sea.”

The birth of the Marines begins with The Second Continental Congress. Congressmen resolved to raise two battalions of marines on Nov. 10, 1775. Congress then commissioned a well-known Philadelphian by the name of Samuel Nichols to become captain of the new Continental Marines.

Nichols remained an officer throughout the American Revolution. At the end of the Revolutionary War, and with the Treaty of Paris, the Navy’s ships were sold and the Continental Navy and Continental Marines were no more.

The Marine Corps was re-established on July 11, 1798 and named the United States Marine Corps. The Corps were utilized in the quasi-war with France, Santo Domingo and confronted pirates on the shores of Tripoli and took part in numerous naval operations during the War of 1812.

The following FAQ is from nationaldaycalendar.com:

Q. What does Semper Fidelis mean?
A. Semper Fidelis is Latin meaning “Always Faithful.”

Q. What does “oorah” mean?
A. “Oorah” is a battle cry associated with the United States Marine Corps.

Q. What’s a devil dog?A. During World War I, the legend goes that German soldiers took to calling U.S. Marines “devil dogs” for their tenacity. In 1918, a U.S. recruiting poster headlined with the phrase Teufel Hunden put the story into full circulation across the country. Although the German expression was rare and oddly worded, and its source blurry at best, the nickname took a firm hold.