Happy Birthday to all my friends who stood on the yellow footprints! I am especially honored to know those Marines who have served the Corps as musicians.

There is nothing quite like a Marine. Marines are a true brotherhood unto themselves, and I am always amazed by the way they respond to one another. The bond they share transcends nearly every club or organization. It defines who they are and reflects the tradition they carry. There is not a Marine among them who would hesitate to run into a burning building to save another Marine – though he might first criticize the other Marine for failing to secure a proper fire watch.

Since 1775, the Marines have stood ready to defend our nation whenever called. When the klaxon sounds, they are often among the first sent into action. For that, every citizen should be grateful. George Orwell reportedly said, “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” That is their calling, and it is not one just anyone can answer.

The Marine Corps has maintained its demanding standards because of the nature of its mission. Marines do not ask whether a task is difficult; they ask where it is, when it starts, and whether they should bring extra ammunition. Tell a Marine something cannot be done, and he will regard it less as a warning than as a personal challenge.

It is no wonder Marines describe themselves as “the few and the proud.” They are proud of their history, their uniform, their discipline, and especially the fact that every other branch secretly wishes it had dress blues.

We love and respect Marines because their loyalty has no expiration date. Long after active service ends, the title remains. There are no former Marines in spirit – only Marines who no longer have to report for morning formation.

We admire them because they accept discomfort as if it were part of the benefits package. Rain, mud, cold, heat, hunger, exhaustion, and sleepless nights are treated not as hardships but as opportunities to build character – usually someone else’s character.

We respect their courage, but courage is more than charging toward danger. It is doing one’s duty while afraid, remaining steady when others need strength, and putting the mission and one’s fellow Marines ahead of personal comfort. Marines have demonstrated that kind of courage from the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli, and in every conflict and crisis since.

We love their humor because it survives almost anything. Marines can find something to laugh about in a downpour, on a forced march, during a sleepless night, or while eating something that claims to be food only because the package says so. Their humor may be rough around the edges, but it is one of the ways they endure hardship and keep one another going.

We respect their discipline. A Marine understands that excellence is built through countless small acts: showing up on time, maintaining equipment, keeping promises, protecting the person beside you, and doing the right thing when nobody is watching. Marines know that “early” means on time, “on time” means late, and “late” means you had better arrive with an excellent explanation and perhaps a change of identity.

We admire their adaptability. Marines have long been expected to do more with less, improvise under pressure, and accomplish the mission despite limited time, imperfect information, and equipment allegedly supplied by the lowest bidder. Give a Marine duct tape, a multitool, and an impossible assignment, and by sunset the assignment will be completed, the equipment will be working, and the duct tape will somehow have received a promotion.

We love the way Marines care for one another. They may tease each other without mercy, argue over whose unit was tougher, and tell stories that improve slightly with each retelling. But when a Marine needs help, other Marines appear. No invitation is necessary. Brotherhood is not a slogan to them; it is a promise.

That loyalty extends to the families who serve beside them. Marine spouses, parents, children, and loved ones endure deployments, long separations, sudden changes, missed holidays, and anxious nights. Their sacrifice deserves recognition as well. Behind every Marine stands a family that has also learned the meaning of courage, patience, and Semper Fidelis.

Two memorable quotes capture the spirit of the Corps:

“The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!” Eleanor Roosevelt

“Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But the Marines don’t have that problem.” Ronald Reagan

Over the years, I have attended many veterans’ gatherings and had the honor of being recognized at a Marine Corps Birthday Ball while serving in the Maryland Defense Force. I am honored that Marine Veteran Mark Paradise serves as the CEO of TAPS FOR VETERANS, and with his help, TFV has grown into a recognized nationwide organization that supports our Veterans by providing live buglers for military funerals.

One experience that will remain forever etched in my memory was meeting a Marine Veteran at a dinner. Among his decorations, he wore a Purple Heart with two award devices, indicating that he had received the decoration three times.

“Are you telling me you were wounded three times?” I asked.

“Well, you know us Marines,” he replied without missing a beat. “We like to keep doing it until we get it right.”

That response captured so much of the Marine spirit: courage without boasting, sacrifice without complaint, and humor in the face of hardship.

I remain in awe of the Corps and, on the anniversary of its birth, wish to thank all Marines for everything they have done for our nation.

So today, let us honor the Marines serving around the world, the veterans who still carry the Corps in their hearts, the families who share in their sacrifices, and the fallen whose courage must never be forgotten.

God bless them all.

Happy Birthday to the United States Marine Corps – and Semper Fidelis!

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