Celebrating 250 years of the United States Marine Corps and its rich heritage.
Two hundred and fifty years. The greatest little gun club on earth.
On November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress passed a resolution authorizing the raising of two battalions of Marines (original here).
Resolved, That two Battalions of marines be raised, consisting of one Colonel, two Lieutenant Colonels, two Majors, and other officers as usual in other regiments; and that they consist of an equal number of privates with other battalions; that particular care be taken, that no persons be appointed to office, or enlisted into said Battalions, but such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve to advantage by sea when required; that they be enlisted and commissioned to serve for and during the present war between Great Britain and the colonies, unless dismissed by order of Congress: that they be distinguished by the names of the first and second battalions of American Marines, and that they be considered as part of the number which the continental Army before Boston is ordered to consist of.
Ordered, That a copy of the above be transmitted to the General.
Born in a tavern, Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, and we’ve never forgotten that part of our heritage. It takes Captain Samuel Nicholas no time at all to raise his two battalions of Marines.
The year is 1775. On Nov. 10, Men of different ages and occupations gathered in a dusty, candle-lit bar to listen as two individuals offered them a chance to be the first of a new breed fighting for independence. A breed that would be known as the United States Marines. As the… pic.twitter.com/MwaRC1CGOH— Project Appleseed (@AppleseedNation) November 10, 2025
Those two individuals also gave rise to what became a Marine Corps tradition – shaking their ‘old Corps’ heads over the ‘newbies’, which proudly continues to this day.
.There’s an old story about the first two Marines at Tun Tavern. Captain Samuel Nicholas offered a free beer to the first recruit who signed up for the newly-created Corps. Soon a man signed on the dotted line. Seeing no other recruits, Captain Nicholas offered two beers to the Corps’ second recruit. Soon enough, another man signed up and rightfully took his two beers. The first recruit sneered at him, ”In the old Corps, we only got one beer.”
And we were off, griping, complaining, and wiping the enemies of the United States from the face of the earth as only the Marine Corps can.
pic.twitter.com/3YI18CM9qp— Heitor Lejeune (@HeitorLejeune) November 10, 2025
Everywhere on earth.
The eagle, globe, and anchor (EGA), so tied to and instantly recognizable as belonging to the Marine Corps, has an interesting history.
