Happy Birthday, U.S. Marine Corps!

To the few, the proud, the Marines...we wish you a very happy birthday. Some background (Wikipedia):

Two battalions of Continental Marines were formed on 10 November 1775 in Philadelphia as an Infantry force capable of fighting for independence both at sea and on shore. The role of the Corps has since grown and evolved, expanding to aerial warfare and earning popular titles such as "America's third air force" and "second land army". The Marine Corps has distingushed itself as it has served in the majority of American wars, from its inception to the modern era, and attained prominence in the 20th century when its theories and practices of amphibious warfare proved prescient and ultimately formed the cornerstone of the Pacific campaign of World War II. By the mid-20th century, the Marine Corps had become a major theorist and the dominant practitioner of amphibious warfare. Its ability to rapidly respond on short notice to expeditionary crises gives it a strong role in the implementation and execution of American foreign policy.

The U.S. Marine Corps has around 194,000 active duty members and just under 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2010. It is the smallest of the U.S. Armed Forces in the U.S. Department of Defense.

 

I thought this musical tribute to the U.S. Marines was outstanding:

And speaking of outstanding, watch this performance by the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon in front of a packed NBA arena:

Got a Marine in your life? Take a moment to tell them happy birthday and thank you.