The United States Marine Corps celebrates its 250th birthday today, just like every Nov. 10: a date that honors two and a half centuries of courage, commitment and service to the nation.

“This anniversary reminds us that our standards are the foundation of our Corps. Honor, Courage, and Commitment are not abstractions, but the code that binds us to one another and to all who went before,” said U.S. Marine Corps General Eric M. Smith. “Every Marine, in every clime and place, must hold true to these values. The conflicts ahead will demand nothing less.”

The Marine Corps traces its origins to Nov. 10, 1775, when the Continental Congress passed the Continental Marine Act, forming a new corps to provide additional security and support for the Continental Navy. The Marines’ early mission was t

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