Every November 10, wherever Marines are serving, someone stands up and reads a short message written more than a century ago. It happens at formal birthday balls, in offices, aboard ships, and in combat zones. That message is Marine Corps Order No. 47, issued by Major General Commandant John A. Lejeune in 1921. November 10, 1921, was the first Marine Corps birthday observed under that order, and the tradition it started is now one of the most cherished in the Corps.
Quick Facts
- Document: Marine Corps Order No. 47, Series 1921.
- Issued by: Major General John A. Lejeune, 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps.
- Date issued: November 1, 1921.
- Purpose: To summarize the history, mission, and traditions of the Corps and to have that summary read to every command each November 10.
- Birthday it honors: November 10, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized two battalions of Marines.
- Before 1921: Marines generally marked July 11, the date the Corps was re-established in 1798, with little ceremony.
A Birthday That Needed Moving
The Marine Corps traces its roots to November 10, 1775, when the Continental Congress passed a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines to serve during the Revolutionary War. After the war, the Continental Marines were disbanded. The Corps was formally re-established on July 11, 1798, and for many years that summer date was the one Marines recognized, though it was not celebrated with much fanfare.
In 1921, Major Edwin North McClellan, who was working on Marine Corps history, proposed that the Corps honor its original founding date of November 10 instead. The idea took hold with the Commandant, and the result was one of the most lasting orders in Marine Corps history.
Who Was John A. Lejeune?
John Archer Lejeune is often called “the greatest of all Leathernecks.” A Louisiana native and Naval Academy graduate, he commanded the Army’s 2nd Division in France during World War I, a rare honor for a Marine officer. He became the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps in 1920. Lejeune believed strongly in the Corps’ identity and its role in the nation’s defense, and he understood that a shared history helps hold an organization together. Camp Lejeune in North Carolina is named in his honor.
What the Order Says
Lejeune signed Marine Corps Order No. 47 on November 1, 1921, and directed that it be read to every command on November 10 each year. The message is brief. It opens with a simple statement of the Corps’ origin: “On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of Continental Congress.”
From there, the order moves through three ideas. First, it recalls the founding of the Corps. Second, it points to the Marines’ record of service in the nation’s wars and in many smaller actions around the world, describing that record as something every Marine should be proud of. Third, it turns to the present and the future, calling on Marines to carry the same spirit forward so the Corps’ reputation remains in good hands. In just a few paragraphs, it reminds every Marine that they belong to something larger than themselves.
How the Tradition Grew
The reading of Lejeune’s message became the foundation for the modern Marine Corps birthday. Over the following decades, Marines added more ceremony around it, and birthday balls became a central part of the celebration. In 1952, Commandant Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. formalized the birthday ceremony, including the cake-cutting tradition.
In that ceremony, the first slice of cake goes to the guest of honor. The next piece goes to the oldest Marine present, who passes it to the youngest Marine present. The gesture represents experienced Marines handing down their knowledge and traditions to the newest generation. Along with Lejeune’s message, the current Commandant’s birthday message is usually read as well, linking the Corps’ past to its present.
Why It Still Matters
More than a hundred years later, the order still does what Lejeune intended. It gives every Marine, from a brand-new private to a retired sergeant major, a shared moment each year to remember where the Corps came from. Marines in a ballroom in the United States and Marines at a remote outpost hear essentially the same words on the same day. That sense of continuity is a big part of why Marines often say “once a Marine, always a Marine.”
What This Means for Your Marine and Your Family
Recruits learn the Marine Corps birthday early in boot camp, and they learn about John A. Lejeune as part of their history classes. Once they earn the title Marine, November 10 becomes their birthday too. Many new Marines attend their first birthday ball within their first year or two of service, and some units invite family members or dates to attend.
Even if you cannot be there, you can share in the day. Send a card or message to your Marine on November 10 and wish them a happy birthday. If your Marine is the youngest at their unit’s celebration, they may even receive that symbolic slice of cake. However they mark it, the words Lejeune wrote in 1921 will be part of their day, connecting them to every Marine who came before.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Marine Corps Order No. 47?
It is a short order issued by Commandant John A. Lejeune on November 1, 1921. It summarizes the history, mission, and traditions of the Marine Corps and directs that it be read to every command each November 10.
Why is the Marine Corps birthday on November 10?
On November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized two battalions of Marines. Lejeune’s 1921 order made that original founding date the official day of celebration.
When did Marines celebrate before 1921?
Before Lejeune’s order, Marines generally recognized July 11, the date the Corps was re-established in 1798, and the occasion was marked with little ceremony.
Who gets the first piece of birthday cake?
The guest of honor receives the first slice. The second goes to the oldest Marine present, who passes it to the youngest Marine present as a symbol of passing experience to the next generation.