By JON BALDWIN
Clay Township Military Library & Museum
Today, Nov. 10, Clay Township Military Library and Museum, 10801 N. College Ave., Carmel, will open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a special open house recognizing the 251st birthday of the United States Marine Corps.
The Continental Congress authorized two battalions of Marines on Nov. 10, 1775, eight months before the Declaration of Independence. Marines have marked that date as the Corps’ birthday for more than a century.
Visitors can explore the museum’s military-history collection while learning about Marine traditions and symbols that many civilians rarely encounter:
- Why the birthday message of Commandant John A. Lejeune is read every year.
- How the oldest and youngest Marines take part in the traditional cake ceremony.
- What the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor represents.
- Where the names “Leatherneck” and “Devil Dog” originated.
- How Kokomo-born Opha May Johnson became the first woman to enlist in the Marine Corps.
This is a Marine Corps Birthday open house, distinct from Veterans Day on Nov. 11. Nov. 10 highlights the history and identity of one service branch; Veterans Day honors all who served honorably in the nation’s Armed Forces.
Admission is free, but donations are welcome.
Marine veterans and families are especially encouraged to visit, share memories, and learn how the museum is preserving local service through its Honor Roll, oral histories, and Veteran Profiles.
Questions? Call (317) 435-7194 or email claytwpmilitarymuseum@gmail.com.
Semper Fidelis – and happy birthday, Marines!
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