The 248th Marine Corps birthday was celebrated on a rainy, misbrable November 10, 2023 at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. The ceremony included a wreath laying to honor the sacrifices of Marines and their service to the nation.

The United States Marine Corps started as the Continental Marines on November 10, 1775. On that date, the Second Continental Congress decided that they needed 2 battalions of Marines to serve as landing forces with the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783).

Honor, courage and commitment, the core values of the Marines, define how every Marine in the Corps thinks, acts and fights. Throughout the evolving battlefields of the 21st Century, every Marine in the Corps must be confident in the abilities of themselves—and each other. In the chaos of battle, character matters.

The ceremony was free and open to the public and features “The President’s Own” Marine Band, “The Commandant’s Own” Drum & Bugle Corps, the official Marine Corps Color Guard, a firing party, and four platoons of ceremonial marchers.

Marine Body Bearer stands watch over ceremonial wreath at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

Former 18th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major Ronald L. Green from Jackson, MS chats with Vietnam Medal Of Honor recipient Colonel Harvey C. "Barney" Barnum Jr.

"Barney" Barnum with some of his brother Marines.

Marine officer along with the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, 78th Secretary of the Navy placed the wreath.

The ceremony was free and open to the public and features “The President’s Own” Marine Band, “The Commandant’s Own” Drum & Bugle Corps, the official Marine Corps Color Guard, a firing party, and four platoons of ceremonial marchers.

Marine Corps War Memorial Arlington, Virginia.

The Marine Corps was founded on November 10, 1775, when the Second Continental Congress drafted a resolution to raise a new type of warfighter for the Revolutionary War.