240 Years of History: Marines Celebrate Legacy with Birthday Pageant

Lance Cpl. Levi Schultz

Combat Center Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Lewis A. Craparotta, cuts the birthday cake during the annual Marine Corps Birthday Uniform Pageant at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field, Nov. 10, 2015. (Official Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Levi Schultz/Released)

TWENTY NINE PALMS, Calif. - For 240 years Marines have served as the nation’s force in readiness, always prepared to defend our country and Constitution from America’s adversaries. Throughout the years, Marines have donned many different uniforms to meet the needs of the time and to remain ever-ready to answer the call of duty.

Combat Center Marines celebrated their extensive legacy and the Marine Corps’ 240th birthday by showing off many of the uniforms used throughout their rich and illustrious history with the annual Marine Corps Birthday Uniform Pageant at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field, Nov. 10, 2015. The Combat Center Color Guard carried the colors as the national anthem, Marines' Hymn and Anchors Aweigh played in honor of the birthday.

 

During the event, Marines dressed in uniforms from different time periods, dating as far back as 1775, and took turns speaking lines detailing the history and battles that their garb associated with. Navy Corpsmen also received recognition for their years of service alongside Marines throughout history.

At the conclusion of the event, Combat Center Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Lewis A. Craparotta, performed the traditional cake-cutting ceremony wherein the oldest and youngest Marines each received pieces of birthday cake.

While the ceremony displayed how the Marines’ wardrobe has changed many times over the years, it reaffirms that the ‘Esprit de Corps’ that defines the Marine Corps as the nation’s most effective fighting force remains the same.

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