A patriotic celebration attended by top U.S. officials and nationwide protest marches.

For some, the combination may strike a discordant note, but not Gregory Daddis, an Army veteran and military historian. For the former director of the Center for War and Society at San Diego State University, the events, both happening Saturday, have a certain harmony.

“In one sense, you can make a strong argument that the former protects the latter,” said Daddis, who is now at Texas A&M University. ”Celebrating 250 years of Marine Corps service to the nation guarantees the freedom of speech that you’re seeing in the protests.”

Three branches of the military are celebrating their semiquincentennials this year – the Marines, U.S. Navy and U.S. Army – but Saturday’s event for the Marines at Camp Pendlet

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