Recognizing the 250th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps
Floor Speech
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Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, I want to thank my colleague Senator Blumenthal and the Presiding Officer for his great service. We do know the Marine Corps is part of the Department of the Navy, so we are all related here. I won't say what I used to say to my father, who was a Navy officer, in response to that, but it is an honor to be on the Senate floor here with Senator Blumenthal, my colleague and fellow marine.
You know, there is a lot of frustration going on here in the Senate. We are trying to get this government reopened and pay our workers and people are suffering, but I do think it is also important to switch gears and come down here, in a bipartisan fashion, to agree to S. Res. 124, by Senator Blumenthal and me, on commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps, a truly remarkable milestone by one of America's most remarkable institutions. That happens tomorrow, on November 10--our birthday, the Marine Corps' birthday.
Now, we marines--Mr. President, you know this--take our November 10 birthday very seriously. No matter where marines are anywhere in the world, deployed, they always take time to celebrate the birthday of our beloved Corps on November 10. Everybody in the Marine Corps wishes each other happy birthday.
We also are kind of proud of the fact that we are the only military service that was founded in a bar. Yes, that is true. Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, PA, is where the Marine Corps was founded.
At our celebrations, we do a lot. They are great celebrations. If you haven't been to one, anyone watching, I encourage you to go to a Marine Corps birthday ball. You will have the time of your life. You will come away filled with a sense of patriotism and pride whether you served in the military in the Marine Corps or not. You will love it.
At these birthday celebrations, we, of course, as Senator Blumenthal mentioned, remember our fallen. We recommit ourselves to keeping the marines the world's finest fighting force, which it is and has been for decades. We take time to recognize not just the marines present but, in particular, the oldest and youngest marines present.
We have a very solemn cake-cutting ceremony. In fact, after the birthday cake is cut with a Mameluke sword, the guest of honor presents the first piece of cake to the oldest marine present, and then he hands that piece of cake off, after he takes a bite, to the youngest marine present, signifying the passing of heritage and culture and tradition from one generation to the other.
Last night, there were two special Marine Corps balls that I cared a lot about. One--the one I really care about--was in Anchorage, AK, hosted by Delta Company, 4th Law Enforcement Battalion. I was very honored and set to be there as a guest of honor last night. This is the Alaska Marine Corps ball. We have such a great time. I have been going to that ball for years with my wife, my daughters, friends, fellow marines. Alas, given the work we are doing here in the Senate to reopen the government, I was not able to attend--a huge disappointment for me. I really, really wanted to be in Alaska with my fellow marines and my family.
There was also another Marine Corps ball last night. It was actually in DC here, the Commandant's ball. At the last minute, I thought, hey, if I can't be in Anchorage, I am going to at least celebrate the 250th with the Commandant, some top generals, top enlisted marines, a couple of my Senate colleagues--Senator Ernst and Senator Daines. Vice President JD Vance was a guest of honor. By the way, he is the first marine Vice President ever, so he got a lot of shouts and recognition last night.
But the marine who stole the show last night was the oldest marine, Cpl Nils Mockler--99 years old; born in 1926; Iwo Jima combat marine, D1; looking as strong as he did when he was an 18-year-old corporal storming the beaches of Iwo Jima. Last night, he was there. The place went nuts when he was recognized--a 5-minute standing ovation for this great American hero. What a moment.
Finally, at every Marine Corps birthday ball throughout the world for the last hundred years, this message that I am going to read right now is read. It is the message delivered to the marines on the birthday of the Marine Corps by the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
The 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. John Lejeune, in 1921 issued this message, and ever since then, since 1921, every single Marine Corps birthday celebration for over a hundred years has had this proclamation read. It was read last night in Anchorage; it was read last night in DC; and for the Marine Corps balls today and tomorrow on November 10, it will be read there. Here is what it says--remember, this is from 1921, but it kind of gives you a sense of how we feel about our illustrious Corps. It is a message from the Commandant of the Marine Corps, republished in the U.S. Marine Corps Manual, edition 1921:
On November 10, 1775, a Corps of Marines was created by a resolution of the Continental Congress. Since that date many thousand men have borne the name Marine. In memory of them it is fitting that we who are marines should commemorate the birthday of our corps by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrious history.
The record of our corps is one which will bear comparison with that of the most famous military organizations in the world's history. During 90 of the 146 years of its existence the Marine Corps has been in action against the Nation's foes. From the Battle of Trenton to the Argonne, marines have won foremost honors in war, and in the long eras of tranquility at home generation after generation of marines have grown gray in war in both hemispheres, and in every corner of the seven seas that our country and its citizens might enjoy peace and security.
In every battle and skirmish since the birth of our corps marines have acquitted themselves with the greatest distinction, winning new honors on each occasion until the term marine has come to signify all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue.
This high name of distinction and soldierly repute we who are Marines today have received from those who preceded us in the corps. With it we also received from them the eternal spirit which has animated our corps from generation to generation and has been the distinguishing mark of the marines in every age. So long as that spirit continues to flourish marines will be found equal to every emergency in the future as they have been in the past, and the men of our Nation will regard us as worthy successors to the long line of illustrious men who have served as ``Soldiers of the Sea'' since the founding of the corps.
Mr. President, you have heard that before. That is the message of the Marine Corps birthday from the Commandant of the Marine Corps, John Lejeune, issued in 1921. Every marine hears this every year, and it is still incredibly relevant.
I want to thank Senator Blumenthal again for leading this effort on the 250th birthday resolution that we are going to pass here in the Senate in commemoration of the Marine Corps' founding.
We have a long tradition of being the service that is most ready when our Nation is least ready.
Again, to all the marines out there, ``Semper Fi,'' happy birthday, and here is to 250 more years for our Corps.
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