Spotlight: 250th Marine Corps Birthday

The United States Marine Corps celebrates its birthday each year on November 10^th with traditions including a ceremonial cake cutting with a sword and a formal dinner or ball. Everyone has heard of the Marine Corps Ball. While less well known, the cake cutting ceremony is extremely significant. During the ceremony, a piece of cake is given to the oldest Marine present, who then passes it to the youngest Marine, symbolizing the transfer of knowledge and the bond that exists between all generations of Marines. This year’s celebration marks the 250th birthday for the Marine Corps, which was established on November 10, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized the raising of two battalions of Marines during the Revolutionary War. The special milestone will be celebrated across the nation with coordinated ceremonies in all 50 state capitols, including a ceremony at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, November 10, 2025.

Springfield resident Matt Janes credits the Marine Corps for making him the man he is today. As an 18-year-old high school senior at Sacred Heart Griffin, Matt didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life. As he recalls, in December 2011, his mom asked him when he was going to go on college visits. Matt looked over at the television where there was a show about the Marines on. He looked back to his mom and said, “I’m not going to college. I’m going to join the Marines.” They both then sat there in silence. The next day Matt went to the Marine recruiter’s office and enlisted. Says Matt, “It was the best decision I ever made, behind proposing to and marrying Sami McElwee.” 

Matt graduated from SHG in May 2012 and went to boot camp that July. He spent 4 years in the Marines, where he was a machine gunner assigned to the 2nd Battalion 5th Marines out of Camp Pendleton, California. After his service, Matt attended Illinois State University on the GI Bill, studying political science and government. The political bug was never far from Matt. While a student at ISU, he worked on several political campaigns. After college, Matt worked on staff for Congressman Rodney Davis as a Constituent Services and Veterans Outreach Coordinator. When asked what he learned from his time in the Marines, Matt comments, “You learn to be flexible and get the job done. You can have a 20 page plan, but when stuff goes sideways you need to adapt.” Three words that Matt uses to describe the skills he gained in the Marines are leadership, accountability, and intensity. Matt notes, “As a Marine, you better be able to bring it every day.”                 

Matt and his wife Sami are a perfect example of home-grown talent coming back to Central Illinois and working to help make our community the best it can be. Matt and Sami met at SHG, where she was on the Poms Squad and he played football. While Matt was in the Marines, Sami earned a degree in marketing and entrepreneurship from Oklahoma State University. In 2021, Sami put her degree to work when she purchased The Wardrobe, a well-established locally owned women’s clothing store in The Gables. Since April 2024, Matt has been using the skills he learned in the Marines as the Executive Director of the Illinois Republican Party. Matt is plenty busy in this role and credits the discipline he gained during his time in the Marine Corps with giving him that extra fight needed to get everything done. 

While the Marines are recognized as a world class fighting force, they have other duties as well.  The United States Marine band, established by an Act of Congress on July 11, 1798, is the oldest U.S. military band and the oldest professional musical organization in the country. A unique connection between the Marine Band and the Presidency began in 1801. That year, President John Adams invited the band to play at the White House on New Year’s Day. Then, on March 4, 1801, the Marine Band performed for Thomas Jefferson’s inauguration. It has performed for every Presidential inauguration since that time. Thomas Jefferson is credited with giving the band its nickname “The President’s Own.” In November 1863, the Marine Band accompanied President Abraham Lincoln to Gettysburg for his immortal Gettysburg Address. Composer John Philip Sousa, known as the "American March King" for creating such pieces as “Stars and Stripes Forever,” was apprenticed to the Marine Band as a 13-year-old in 1868. Sousa left the band in 1875, only to rejoin as its conductor in 1880, a position he held until 1892. Under Sousa’s direction, the band’s reputation and reach increased. In 1890, the Marine Band became the first large musical ensemble to make a commercial recording for the phonograph, and in 1891, it went on its first annual tour. Today, the Marine Band’s primary mission is to provide music to the President. It recruits experienced musicians who serve under a four-year contract as active duty enlisted Marines.  

In 1883, the Marines adopted the motto “Semper Fidelis” which is Latin for “Always Faithful.”  Today’s Marine Corps is designed to act as a highly mobile, ready fighting force capable of fighting the nation's battles on land and at sea.  Marines are trained to improvise, adapt, and overcome obstacles, with the core values of honor, courage, and commitment.  There are approximately 170,000 active duty Marines and 30,000 reserve personnel.

To learn more about the 250^th Birthday of the Marines, you can visit https://www.marines.mil/Marines250 and https://www.marine250.com/.