Marine Corps celebrates 241st birthday at Parris Island

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The Associated Press

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Nov. 10, 2015) U.S. Marine Col. Vance L. Cryer cuts a cake during a ceremony to celebrate the Marines Corps’ 240th birthday aboard the USS Essex (LHD 2). Cryer is the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s commanding officer. In celebration of the Marine Corps’ birthday, the oldest Marine takes a bite of the cake and passes it to the youngest Marine, simulating the knowledge and tradition passing from the older generation to the younger. The ceremony included a reading of Gen. John A. Lejeune’s birthday message and a cake-cutting to celebrate 240 years of tradition, service, and victory. The 15th MEU is currently deployed in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to promote regional stability and security in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Anna Albrecht/Released)

PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. — The Marine Corps on Parris Island is celebrating the service’s 241st birthday with a historical uniform pageant, a cake-cutting and a performance by the Parris Island Marine Band.

The event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the All Weather Training Center on the historic training installation. The event comes ahead of the formal date, which usually is celebrated on Nov. 10.

The celebration also includes birthday messages from Marine Corps leaders.

The cake ceremony features the oldest and youngest Marines in attendance and symbolizes the passing on of knowledge and tradition from one generation to the next.

SOUTH CHINA SEA (Nov. 10, 2015) U.S. Marine Col. Vance L. Cryer cuts a cake during a ceremony to celebrate the Marines Corps’ 240th birthday aboard the USS Essex (LHD 2). Cryer is the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s commanding officer. In celebration of the Marine Corps’ birthday, the oldest Marine takes a bite of the cake and passes it to the youngest Marine, simulating the knowledge and tradition passing from the older generation to the younger. The ceremony included a reading of Gen. John A. Lejeune’s birthday message and a cake-cutting to celebrate 240 years of tradition, service, and victory. The 15th MEU is currently deployed in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to promote regional stability and security in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Anna Albrecht/Released)

U.S. Marine Col. Vance L. Cryer cuts a cake during a Nov. 12, 2015, ceremony to celebrate the Marines Corps’ 240th birthday aboard the USS Essex (LHD 2).

Photo Credit: Sgt. Anna Albrecht/Marine Corps

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