Marines are rightly proud of their “first to fight” reputation, but they are also “first to celebrate.”
Although the other armed services are commemorating Veterans Day on Nov. 11, Leathernecks around the world observed the Marine Corps’ landmark 250th birthday a day earlier.
On Monday, retired Maj. Gen. James Lukeman, president of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, joined about 1,000 fellow Marine veterans and their families to mark the day on Nov. 10, 1775, when the first recruiting drive for the Continental Marines was held at Tun Tavern, a popular Philadelphia watering hole.
“When two Marines are together [on Nov. 10], there will be a ‘Happy birthday’ exchanged, and if there’s anything resembling a cake nearby, they’ll have a piece of it,” Gen. Lukeman said at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia. “But, it really is more than just a piece of cake. It’s a celebration of who we are.”
He said that, for 250 years, Marines of all ages and backgrounds have exhibited the qualities that make the country great: selfless service, honor, courage, commitment and personal sacrifice.
“Every year, Marines stop and celebrate what it means to be a Marine, calling to mind the glories of the past and passing those traditions from one generation to another,” Gen. Lukeman said. “We want to make sure that those values that everybody looks at and sees in the Marine Corps are communicated to the entire country.”
A Marine’s journey begins in boot camp or officer candidate school, when they learn to leave aside personal comfort and become part of something bigger than themselves, Gen. Lukeman said.
“So many Marines have gotten out and continued to serve their communities across the country,” he said. “It really does stay with you.”
Gen. Lukeman likes the idea of having Veterans Day coincide with the Marine Corps birthday. The celebrations have been known to get a bit boisterous.
“It’s a nice segue. It’s also nice to have a holiday after the [Marine Corps] birthday. If we celebrate a little too hard today, we can take it easy tomorrow,” he said.
Retired Staff Sgt. Phillip Parsons won’t be taking it easy on Veterans Day.
The 20-year Marine Corps veteran, who retired in 1996, is also chairman of his community’s veterans council, so he will be busy coordinating with groups such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He said two of his sons also retired from the Marine Corps, and 90% of his civilian clothing bears some mark of his decades of military service.
“Once you’re a Marine, you’re always a Marine,” he said. “You can always tell them apart by the way they carry themselves and interact with other people.”
The Marine Corps hasn’t faced the kinds of manpower shortages that have left some of the other services scrambling for recruits, so it can be more selective, Sgt. Parsons said.
“Not everybody can serve in the military, and that’s fine,” he said. “It’s not that they don’t care; they just have never been exposed to it.”
Ahead of Veterans Day, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins said he wants to continue the improvements in the medical system that began after the 2024 elections.
He said the case backlog has decreased more than 49% since January. The agency is processing a record number of disability claims and has opened 20 health care clinics to expand access for veterans throughout the country.
“America’s veterans have made our country — and our military — the greatest in the world. On Veterans Day, we honor these patriots, celebrate them for our freedoms and salute them for keeping us safe,” Mr. Collins said in a statement. “Keeping the promises America has made to the veterans is the sole purpose of the Department of Veterans Affairs.”
Retired Lt. Col. Ron Wozniak retired from the Marine Corps in 1996, but after considerable effort, managed to get himself recalled to active duty just before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
“I told them I still had my uniform, I still had my haircut, and I could still pass the physical fitness test,” Col. Wozniak said.
He never left Hawaii, but Col. Wozniak said he was glad for the opportunity to wear his Marine Corps uniform, even if it was for a short time. He is not worried about the future of the service.
“The Marines who are coming in are top-quality guys. They’re going to continue the traditions,” he said.
