By Valerie Cox, guest contributor, Caliber Collision

“We Marines are truly blessed. We get to enjoy the sweet taste of freedom because we know its price.”- John Chipura

Since its founding, the United States Marine Corps (USMC) has protected our country, and today we have the honor of celebrating their 241st birthday. From their humble beginning with recruiting taking place in local pubs to the powerful military branch they are today, the Marine Corps has certainly proven their worth to our country’s security and protection. Even though they are under the Department of Navy, the Marine Corps function as a separate military branch. We owe so much to the Marines who have made countless sacrifices for our freedom so grab a slice of cake and celebrate the 241st birthday of the United States Marine Corps!

Throughout its 241 years, the United States Marine Corps has had many memorable moments. During the Revolutionary War in 1776, the Marine Corps had their first raid at Fort Nassau in the Bahamas ending in a victory against Great Britain. As a part of the First Barnaby War, the first overseas land battle fought by US military occurred on the shores of Tripoli (mentioned in the Marine Corps’ song) in 1801. In 1945, the iconic flag raising photo was taken of 6 Marines during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. The first helicopter combat deployment occurred in 1951 during the Korean War’s Operation Summit. During the War on Terror in Afghanistan, Female Engagement Teams were used to build relationships with Afghan women, and the program is still in place today.

For Marines, honor, courage, and commitment are core values to strive for, and Ductus Exemplo, Latin meaning “lead by example,” is a model for Marine officers to show effective leadership to younger officers. All members of the Marines function with the idea that every Marine is a rifleman meaning even though your rank might be higher, you are no better than your fellow Marines. Since 1868, the USMC has been symbolized by an eagle (representing the United States), globe (representing the USMC presence worldwide), and anchor (representing their naval heritage and ability to access every coastline), and together these three serve as a representation to defend the United States whether in air, on land, or at sea.

Marines, along with other military members, make so many sacrifices for our country including being away from their families. As their loved ones serve, the families left behind are expected to continue life during both good and bad times. When disaster or tragedy occurs, it is extremely stressful for families to contact their military members. The American Red Cross has helped bridge the gap by creating Hero Care, an interactive app designed to assist active-duty military, veterans, and their families with finding emergency and non-emergency Red Cross service throughout the world. Using this app, families can request Red Cross emergency services, access information about their service member, find resources, and more. To learn more about the Hero Care app, visit here.