Trip through history in Twentynine Palms celebrates Marine Corps’ 248th birthday

November 10th marks 248 years since the United States Marine Corps was established.

At the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, local Marines celebrated the occasion a day early. The base hosted a 'Birthday Pageant', that included a traditional cake-cutting ceremony and a trip through the history of the Corps.

Friends and family members gathered at the Lance Corporal Torrey L. Gray Field to take in the festivities, including a group of Junior ROTC Members from Twentynine Palms.

Attendees were taken on a trip down memory lane as current service members marched onto the parade deck dressed in historically-accurate Marine Corps uniforms throughout the decades. The garments spanned nearly 25 decades, ranging from the original ones worn by Continental Marines during the Revolutionary War in 1775, to the current day Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform.

In a touching tribute, Marines dressed in World War II service uniforms paid homage to the 7,000 American lives lost by reenacting the famous moment known as the "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima".

As is tradition, the birthday cake was cut with a Mameluke sword, a weapon that is typically carried by Marine Officers. A piece of cake was then given to the oldest active Marine in attendance, who then passed it along to the youngest to represent the passage of history and wisdom to the next generation.

The ceremony wrapped with the retiring of the colors and a loud chorus of voices singing 'The Marines' Hymn'.

Ryan Meltsen, the Sergeant Major for the MAGTF Training Command and MCAGCC hopes the ceremony inspires the next group of upcoming Marines,

“What I really hope to get out of this is all the schools that are going to be here represented today in the JROTC that they get inspired, and they want to join the Marine Corps and join the family because that's what we are... We're a tight knit family, and then coming out here along with the local community and the veterans to spread that word, maybe there'll be the next generation we're passing the cake to."

So if you happen to know a Marine veteran or anyone who is currently serving in the Marine Corps, make sure to take a second to tell them "Happy Birthday".

MORE: Veterans Day events throughout Coachella Valley

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