Published: November 9, 2022 · Last Updated: October 2025
On November 10, 2022, the United States Marine Corps celebrates its 247th birthday! The birthday, also known as Marine Corps Day, was originally celebrated on July 11 from 1799 until 1921 when Major General Lejeune issued an order to formalize the tradition and establish the official day to honor the birthday of the Marine Corps. The reason November 10th was chosen is because on November 10, 1775, the Marine Corps was officially established by the Second Continental Congress of the United States.
November 10th is celebrated by current and veteran Marines across the country. The celebrations always include a formal evening ball, and there is traditionally cake served. The first so-called “Birthday Ball” was held in 1925 in Philadelphia. 10 years later, the cake-cutting ceremony became an added tradition. The first piece of Birthday cake is presented to the oldest Marine present, and the second piece to the youngest Marine present.
Today, celebrations of the Marine Corps Birthday on 10 November differ at posts and stations throughout the Corps. All commemorations include the reading of Marine Corps Order No. 47, and the Commandant’s message to those assembled. Most commands sponsor a Birthday Ball of some sort, complete with a cake ceremony as prescribed in the Marine Corps Manual.
Earlier this year, Congress folded the Camp Lejeune Justice Act into a broader bill that aims to give health coverage to millions who were sickened by smoke from “burn pits” during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The House of Representatives passed that bill last month, and in June, President Joe Biden said he would sign a version of the bill right away. You can read more about the bill here: Congress Passes The Honoring Our PACT Act 2022
The passage of the PACT Act means that Marine’s exposed to toxic water at Camp Lejeune may be eligible for compensation. If you are a veteran, reservist, guardsman, or family member who lived or served at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, you may have had contact with contaminated drinking water. Scientific and medical evidence has shown an association between exposure to these contaminants during military service and the development of certain diseases later on.
Veterans, reservists, guardsmen or family members may be eligible for compensation benefits if you meet all of the following requirements.
You served at Camp Lejeune for at least 30 cumulative days between the month of August 1953 and December 1987, and
You did not receive a dishonorable discharge when your separated from the military, and
You have been diagnosed with one or more of these conditions:
Adult leukemia
Aplastic anemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes
Bladder cancer
Kidney cancer
Liver cancer
Multiple myeloma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Parkinson’s disease
Cardiac Defects
Breast Cancer
Esophageal Cancer
Lung Cancer
Infertility
Miscarriage
Kidney Failure
Scleroderma
Hepatic Steatosis
Call our office today or fill out a free case evaluationif you believe that you meet all of the above criteria for possible compensation.
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