Celebrating the U.S. Marine Corps at 250

OPINION:

Our nation exists because of our armed forces.

In 2025, the U.S. Marine Corps, Army and Navy all celebrated their 250th anniversary. As we get ready to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we should begin our yearlong celebration in 2026 by first honoring the service members who have ensured our freedom for the past 250 years.

For the U.S. Marine Corps, Nov. 10 marked the 250th anniversary of the day when initial recruits were sworn in at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia. From that first day in 1775 through today, Marines have been defined by courage, sacrifice and service — values that have helped forge our nation and continue to define it.

Throughout 2025, the U.S. Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation worked together to showcase why the story of the Marines is the story of America.

Since the Revolutionary War, Marines have been the first to fight. In battle after battle since then, they have earned a reputation for overcoming incredible odds, so much so that today, the term “Marine” has become synonymous with legendary courage under fire. Battlefield images such as the iconic raising of the flag at Iwo Jima have become indelible parts of the American story.

Although most Americans instinctively associate Marines with combat, our legacy reaches far beyond the battlefield. Over the past year, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation has created Marines Across America, a program that highlights Marines from all 50 states who continue to serve their communities after completing their military service. These everyday heroes include teachers and principals molding young minds, small-business owners creating jobs, first responders helping keep our communities safe, and leaders of nonprofit organizations and veterans’ programs all across the country.

The common thread connecting those profiled in Marines across America is that each individual chose to be part of something larger than themselves. These personal stories deepen our understanding of how Marines continue to serve their communities and our country and how they carry their training and values home to create positive change.

One example is Andy Wetzel, the battalion chief of the Elizabethton Fire Department in Elizabethton, Tennessee. In this role, he oversees critical emergency operations and supports firefighter training, demonstrating the same leadership and dedication that defined his military service.

Or Sarah Gray, a children’s author and special education teacher from Salcha, Alaska. Ms. Gray began writing children’s books as a way to teach children social skills.

In Maine, Anne and Tim Devin retired from extensive Marine Corps careers and faced a question many other veterans face: What’s next? The answer was Chase Stream Farm, assisting hundreds of veterans as they transitioned to an agricultural career.

These unique stories, along with the impact of more well-known Marines who went on to find success in Hollywood or Nashville, Tennessee, as authors and CEOs, as well as the 13 current members of Congress who served in the Marine Corps, reveal the true breadth of Marines’ contributions.

The indelible mark Marines have made was celebrated nationwide in November through a historic 50-state cake-cutting celebration held in state capitals with governors and state leaders. At each event, the oldest Marine passed the first slice to the youngest in a symbolic transfer of knowledge, tradition and values across generations.

At the National Museum of the U.S. Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia, on Nov. 10, Marines from four generations, from a 104-year-old World War II veteran to a 19-year-old private, gathered to cut the cake and sing “The Marines’ Hymn.” The event captured the pride and esprit de corps that defines what it means to be a Marine.

For 250 years, Marines have defended our way of life in combat and shaped our communities long after the uniform comes off. As we get ready to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, we should remember that those values that we admire in the Marine Corps — honor, courage, selfless service and love of country — are the very values that our Country was founded on. As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s first 250 years, we should all be proud of our Marines and proud to be Americans.

• Maj. Gen James W. Lukeman, U.S. Marine Corps (retired), is CEO of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.