The United States Marine Corps Celebrates Its 251st Birthday Today, November 10
Austin's Marines — active, reserve and veteran — mark 251 years since the Continental Congress raised two battalions in 1775, with the birthday's oldest tradition: the first slice of cake goes to the oldest Marine in the room.
AUSTIN — Today belongs to the Marines. November 10, 2026 is the 251st birthday of the United States Marine Corps, marking the day in 1775 when the Second Continental Congress resolved to raise two battalions of Continental Marines — the founding Austin's Marine community, active-duty, reserve and veteran, observes today, on the eve of Veterans Day.
The day carries one of the most distinctive traditions in American military life: the birthday cake-cutting, in which the first slice goes to the oldest Marine present and the second to the youngest — a handing of the standard from one generation to the next. The Commandant's birthday message is read to every command, a practice ordered in 1921, and units mark the day with the Marine Corps Ball, a tradition dating to the 1920s. Headquarters & Service Battalion at Henderson Hall holds its 251st Birthday Ball this season under the theme of 251 years of honor, service and excellence.
The search numbers noticed, too: 'usmc' stood at No. 6 on this morning's Google Trends U.S. listing, read by this desk at the morning pull — the birthday doing what it does every November 10.
The practical line for Austin readers: today is an observance, not a federal holiday — banks, post offices and federal offices are open. Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 11, is Veterans Day, the federal holiday honoring every veteran of every branch, whose Austin service details this station filed at SQ-20261105-027.
