Nov. 10 marks the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday and all year long, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation has been celebrating the anniversary with a wide range of events.
The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation has been celebrating the milestone all year long at events ranging from Major League baseball games to NASCAR races and the Westminster Dog Show, said its CEO, retired Major Gen. James W. Lukeman.
“We couldn’t let this milestone of the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps go by with regular birthday parties on Nov. 10,” he said.
The events, held across the country, help ot remind the nation of what the Marine Corps has done for 250 years, Lukeman said.
“We talk about what Marines stand for, selfless service, sacrifice, honor, courage, commitment and love of country, and how those values are really American values,” he said.
Lukeman said two programs in particular have meaning for every American & every military family. Marines Across America has been highlighting notable Marines in every state on Marine250.com.
“You know Marines, you just might not know they are Marines,” he said. “Many of these folks go back and say their success later in life was because of the Marine Corps, because of what they learned.”
The stories show that Marines continue to serve after they leave the military, Lukeman said. MCHF is asking the general public to add their submissions on the site.
The U.S. Mint has also issued coins marking the Marines' 250th. The surcharge on the sale of the coins goes to the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
MCHF has also partnered with the American Bakers Association to host a 50-state cake-cutting, with events taking place throughout November.
The celebration at the Marine Museum in Quantico, Virginia, has been impacted by the government shutdown, added Lukeman. The museum is currently closed, but will host cake cuttings at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday. The cake is cut by the oldest Marine present and then passed to the youngest Marine present.
“We’re expecting a 104-year-old Marine to be there at one of the ceremonies,” said Lukeman.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.