US Marine Corps 233st Birthday — November 10th, 2008
Veterans Day — November 11th

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In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation's highest place of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe).

These memorial services all took place on November 11, the anniversary of the end of World War I at 11:00 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month), which became known as Armistice Day.

Armistice Day officially became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and a national holiday 12 years later. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans.

As Veterans Day 2006, there were only 12 veterans of that "war to end all wars" still living in the United States.  The youngest of those veterans was 106. The last WWI combat veteran died in 2007. The USA's last veteran from the First World War is Frank Buckles, who is 107 years old. A recent article about him appears here.

Back on July 4th, in the year of 1776, you and I were represented in Philadelphia by a handful of men from throughout the Thirteen Colonies who were sick and tired of paying homage to the King of England. So on that day that they signed our Declaration of Independence from England. Suffice to say this pissed off some important people across the pond, and for the newly-established United States of America, it was the start of many years of struggle to be free.

One group that has fought for our freedom is the United States Marines Corps. What many people don't know is that on November 10, 1775, the Corps was established by an act of the Continental Congress, almost nine months before the Declaration of Independence was signed. To this day, the Corps celebrates its "birthday" on November 10 every year, one day before Veterans Day.

What is the TRUE birthday of the USMC?

So to the men and women of all of the armed services, no matter where you served or when, thanks for being there.

On this day we honor you.

LINKS

• History of the USMC Challenge Coin
  


• Photos of The Great War
  Site with over 1800 photos from World War I. (VERY good!)
  
  
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund
  This year is the 20th anniversary of The Wall. From November 6 thru 11, all of the names inscribed on The Wall will be read aloud.
  
  
• Origins of Veterans Day from the VFW.
  
  
• Origins of Taps
  — From the Arlington National Cemetery web site (short)
  — From the West Point web site (long).
  
  
• Marine Corps Hymn
  (345KB .wav)
   Complete Lyrics (click to display while playing the hymn!)
  
  
• Marine Origins (Sorry for the less-than-crisp rendition. This is a scan of the pages from MetalMan's early '70s version of the Guidebook for Marines.