Happy Birthday United States Marines and Veterans Day Salute

 Greetings All,

Happy 250th Birthday United States Marines

and Veterans Day Salute

This week the layout is focused on the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps which is today, November 10th, 2025. Trains honoring the USMC birthday and Veterans Day November 11th, 2025 will be run to honor of all of our veterans. Here is a brief look at the early history of the USMC.

November 10th, 1775 the United States Marine Corps is Born.

Captain Samuel Nicholas sets up the first Marine Corps recruiting center at the Tun-Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, PA looking for a few good men.

1776 First Amphibious Assault, Fort Nassau

Five companies of Marines carry out the corps first amphibious assault on foreign soil successfully seizing British stock piles of gun powder and munitions.

CSX ES44 #1776 Honoring Our Veterans does the honors for the USMC on November 10th.

1805 The Leathernecks Arrive, Battle of Derna

The Marines rescue the kidnapped crew of the USS Philadelphia and earn the nickname "leathernecks" for their high collared uniforms that protected them against the pirate swords.

1918 The Ferocity of the Devil Dogs, 

Battle of Belleau Wood

Marine forces launch an all out close contact battle against German soldiers and completely shred the defensive counter attack. Surviving German soldiers gave the Marines the name of "devil dogs" due to their relentless fighting spirit.

"Vintage World War I Post Card, The Chicago Daily News War Postals, G. J. Kavanaugh, War Postal Department - American advance, wounded and dying Germans spread along the road, Belleau Wood - France" by France1978 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

The Iwo Jima War Memorial

"USMC Iwo Jima War Memorial at Night, World War II, Veteran Soldiers, American Flag" by Beverly & Pack is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Veterans Day

Originally called Armistice Day in 1919 to commemorate the end of World War I on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleven month, November 11th, 1918 and to honor the veterans who served in this war to end all wars. A congressional act on May 13, 1938 made November 11th a legal holiday.

"NYC Veterans Day Parade" by West Point - The U.S. Military Academy is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

In 1954 the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all US veterans, not just those from WWI. In the 1970s Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday in October to accommodate the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. In 1978 it was moved back to November 11th.

"Marines march in 2011 NYC Veterans Day Parade" by NYCMarines is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The Army and Navy On The Layout

World War II era ?

Recruiting sign on a Schaefer Brewery building.

Another WWII era sign as seen from Neal's Lumber & Hardware. 

Let's not forget the US Navy!!!

Marine Corps Birthday Train

Scale Trains CSXT ES44AH #1776 "Honoring Our Veterans" and CSXT ES44AH #911 "Honoring Our First Responders" lead the USMC birthday train thru Empire City.

USMC Birthday Train

Veterans Day Trains

On the following day ES44AHs led by the CSX 1776 and with other Pride in Service CSX engines will lead a long train thru Empire City with  help from a Scale Trains NS Central of Georgia heritage unit #8101 for our Veterans Day Commemoration.

The "Spirit of the Armed Forces" pays tribute to the five branches of our military.

A Walthers US Army GP9m #4600 with an AHM US Army C628 lead military move to commemorate Veteran's Day on the layout.

The 4600 and C628 roll past North Side Yard to close out the commemorative train moves.

Veterans Day Trains

Additional Links

United States Marine Corps.

Veterans Day.

CSX Pride in Service Locomotives.

CSX US Army 250th Birthday Train Moves.

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you soon!!!