Today we are celebrating the 240th birthday of the United States Marine Corps (U.S.M.C.). It all started with the founding of the Continental Marines on November 10, 1775 to provide shipboard security, ship to ship fighting, and assist in landing forces. Our beloved USMC has served in nearly every conflict in U.S. history and came into its own when its discipline and practices of amphibious warfare proved incredibly valuable in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Today, the men and women who live by the credo “Semper Fi”, are relied upon by the U.S. for their rapid response during times of crisis throughout the world.
Semper fidelis, or, “Semper fi” is the latin term for “always faithful”. On the intiative of Colonel Charles McCawley, the USMC adopted the motto in 1883. The three mottos used prior to Semper Fi included:
- Fortitudine “with courage”
- Per Mare, Per Terram “by sea, by land”
- and also the Marines’ Hymn motto “to the Shores of Tripoli”
Happy Birthday USMC and Thank You!
Marines land during Bougainville campaign.
