During the Revolutionary War, a committee of the Second Continental Congress determined the need for an organized infantry that could provide additional security for the newly founded Continental Navy. In a small Philadelphia tavern, the committee drafted a resolution calling for the creation of two battalions of Marines that could support naval forces on land and at sea. On November 10, 1775, the resolution establishing the Continental Marines was adopted, marking the creation of what is now the United States Marine Corps.
In the Revolutionary War and conflicts that followed, Marines gained recognition for their immense capability and unmatched versatility in warfighting. While originally established to augment the Navy, the Marine Corps gradually took on new roles and formed into an independent fighting force, specializing in rapid deployment, close-quarter combat and amphibious assault operations. By the 20th century, the Marines had begun leading their own operations, oftentimes called upon to conduct expeditionary missions or fight in urban engagements.
During World War I, Marines were admired (even by their enemies) for their courage and tenacity in combat. During the brutal fighting at Belleau Wood in France, German soldiers began referring to the Marines as “Teufel hunden” or “Devil Dogs,” a nickname which has stuck for more than a century.
It was during the fighting at Belleau Wood that perhaps the most famous quotation attached to the Marine Corps was recorded. Captain Lloyd Williams, a company commander in the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine regiment, arrived on the battlefield only to be advised by a French colonel to retreat.
“Retreat, hell!” Williams replied. “We just got here!”
Though Marines have played an important role in nearly every American conflict, one of their most notable contributions was in the Pacific Theater during World War II, where such places as Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima and Okinawa became indelibly etched in American history. The photograph of Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima is possibly the most famous combat photograph ever taken in American history, and it is the image depicted in the nation’s most well-known war monument, the Marine Corps Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. The branch once comprised of just two battalions deployed tens of thousands of troops during the island-hopping campaign and helped secure Allied victory.
Today, the Marine Corps’ multifunctionality has only furthered, allowing the branch to perform a range of combat and non-combat operations. In times of war, Marines are able to engage threats by land, sea, or air and implement innovative tactics that have shaped modern militaries around the world. Beyond the battlefield, Marines commonly conduct humanitarian aid missions following natural disasters, evacuate U.S. citizens from dangerous situations, and provide security for more than 180 embassies. The Marine Corps also plays a key role in the United States’ counter-narcotics and anti-trafficking efforts both domestically and abroad, partnering with government organizations to disrupt smuggling operations.
Illinois State Representative Brandun Schweizer (R-Danville) served in the Marine Corps for 21 years and achieved the rank of Master Sergeant before retiring from service. Rep. Schweizer’s time spent defending our country has led him to become a vocal advocate of veterans in Illinois and to support important legislation to improve the lives of those who risked theirs.
As a member of the Illinois General Assembly, Rep. Schweizer has sponsored several notable bills that seek to improve the lives of veterans in Illinois, including HB 2572, an initiative of the Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs. The new law amends the School Code and the Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Veterans’ Dependents Educational Opportunity Grant Act and Scholarship by adding rulemaking authority when determining grant and scholarship eligibility. Before the signing of this bill, the Department was able to run the program but was unable to make any rules regarding its operation.
Some of Rep. Schweizer’s other initiatives to help veterans include:
SB 1160 amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to allow any resident of Illinois who served in the United Nations Protecting Force in Somalia, Panama, or Grenada to apply for a United National Protection Force license plate.
SB 2175 is an initiative of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs that seeks to clarify time off for veteran medical appointments. Under current law, an employee who is also a veteran is permitted four days off per year to visit a veteran’s hospital or clinic for an examination of a military service-related disability, and those days do not take away from their accrued sick time. The legislation expands the use of those four days by changing the language from veteran’s hospital or clinic to veteran medical appointments, encompassing all needed veteran medical visits and interventions.
HB 1882 amends the Department of Veterans' Affairs Act to recreate the Veterans' Service-Related Ailments Task Force and renames it the Veterans' Services Task Force. It requires the Veterans' Services Task Force to meet at least twice a year and at any other times it deems necessary and also requires the Task Force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations regarding veterans' service-related ailments not recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and other specified matters, to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2026.
“The safety and freedom we all so deeply cherish were paid for through tremendous sacrifices made by members of our armed forces,” said Rep. Schweizer. “Legislating on behalf of veterans is the least we can do for those who risked their lives to defend our country.”
As we celebrate the Marine Corps’ birthday, we recognize the important role the branch has played in defending our nation and remember the sacrifices made by so many who have worn the Eagle, Globe and Anchor. As we reflect upon those sacrifices, let us give thought to how we can continue to support our active military members, veterans, and their families.
Every Marine lives by the motto “Semper Fidelis,” or “always faithful,” a commitment to proficiency in battle, love of country, and loyalty to one another. This November 10, our nation honors the faithful men and women who have valiantly defended our freedoms at home and abroad for 250 years.