Semper Fidelis at 251: The Corps That's Older Than the Republic
On Tuesday, November 10, the United States Marine Corps turns 251 years old, and its story begins with the same group of men that would soon declare American independence. In 1775, the Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, adopted a resolution drafted by future President John Adams that created the Continental Marines to serve as landing forces for the newly formed Continental Navy. The Marines were created to fight for liberty months before the Declaration of Independence was signed. Before there was a Constitution to defend, there were Marines ready to fight for the principles it would hold dear that that our rights come from our Creator, not from a crown.
The Founders understood that a free people must be able to defend itself, which is why the Constitution places the power to raise and maintain our armed forces with Congress, the people's elected representatives, rather than with any single ruler. The Corps has honored that ideal for over a century. Major General John A. Lejeune issued Marine Corps Order No. 47 on November 1, 1921, directing that a birthday message be read to every command on November 10th that year and every year after. It opens plainly: “On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of Continental Congress.” Ironically, Lejeune wrote it while the Corps was fighting for its survival against congressional examination and budget threats, a reminder that heritage worth having is heritage worth defending.
Every Marine swears an oath to support and defend the Constitution - not a party, not a politician, but the law of free people. That is what Semper Fidelis, “Always Faithful,” truly means. At birthday celebrations, the oldest Marine present hands a piece of cake to the youngest, passing the torch from one generation of defenders to the next. This November 10th, find a Marine and thank them. A country that remembers who guards, it is a republic that will live on. Happy 251st birthday, Marines. Semper Fi.
Sources
https://loki.editorial.aetnd.com/this-day-in-history/birth-of-the-u-s-marine-corps
