The Marine Corps’ top officer and top enlisted Marine stood in full dress blues in the pouring rain to wish the service a happy 250th birthday.

Over the weekend, the Marine Corps released its official message for the service’s 250th birthday later this month. As with previous years’ messages, it paid tribute to past generations of Marines, the sacrifices they made and urged them to stay ready for the next conflict. This time, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith and Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz decided to deliver their annual message in the middle of heavy rain.

“From our first amphibious landing at Nassau to the black sands of Iwo Jima to urban combat in Fallujah, our corps has come a long way since Samuel Nicholas first took command of two battalions at Tun Tavern,” Smi

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