The United States Marine Corps is celebrating 250 years of service on Monday, with ceremonies taking place from Washington, D.C., to smaller bases worldwide, honoring a legacy that spans from the American Revolution to the present day.
A Legacy that Began in a Tavern
The Marine Corps traces its origins back to November 10, 1775, when the Second Continental Congress voted to establish two battalions of Marines. Recruitment then began at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, a popular gathering place for sailors, merchants, and revolutionaries at the time.
Led by Samuel Nicholas, the Marines’ first commissioned officer, these early fighters were tasked with protecting naval vessels, conducting “amphibious” raids, and protecting American trade routes at sea.
Within months, they completed their first “landing operation,” seizing British weapons on New Providence Island in the Bahamas.
From those early beginnings, the Marines evolved into one of America’s largest military branches; always defined by the motto “Semper Fidelis,” meaning “always faithful.”
A Celebration in Washington, and Across the Globe
Vice President J.D. Vance, a Marine veteran himself, spoke Saturday at the Walter Washington Convention Center for the Corps’ 250th Birthday Ball celebration, where more than 2,000 service members, veterans, and their family members gathered to honor past and present Marines.
Vance celebrated the Corps’ role in protecting America’s freedom. He reflected on his time in service before telling the crowd, “Kick the enemy’s a– and come home safe,” receiving raucous applause.
In closing, Vance told the ballroom, “I will fight every single day to make sure that the next 250 years are just as damn proud as the first 250. Happy Birthday, Marines.”
The ceremony featured longstanding traditions, such as the iconic cake-cutting with a sword—where the first slice is presented to the oldest Marine present, who then passes it to the youngest, symbolizing the transfer of “duty and wisdom” to the next generation.
Tributes extended well beyond Washington. In Hiroshima, American Marines joined British Royal Marines and U.S. Navy personnel at Peace Memorial Park for a wreath-laying ceremony – honoring their shared history and continued cooperation between both branches.
The U.S. Navy gave the public a look into the moment on social media, posting: “From the Sea, always together. For 250 years, Sailors and Marines have stood side-by-side, delivering combat power and strength wherever it’s needed most. Happy Birthday, Marines!”
Texas Sen. John Kennedy shared his own tribute on X, with a caption reading, “For 250 years, the United States Marine Corps has been the tip of America’s spear—strong, disciplined, and tougher than a two-dollar steak… Happy 250th Birthday @USMC—the few, the proud, the best. Semper Fi.”
Netflix also celebrated the anniversary with the release of MARINES, a four-part documentary series that follows the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit through training exercises and humanitarian missions around the world. The series provides a glimpse into how modern Marines integrate traditional military tactics with cutting-edge technology and evolving mission types.
Across social media, veterans and families shared photographs, deployment memories, and stories of the Marine brotherhood. And from bases like Camp Lejeune to remote posts around the world, Marines celebrated that iconic motto: “Semper Fi.”