What does the celebration of the USMC’s birthday mean to Marines across the globe? To Gen. John A. Lejeune, obviously, it meant a great deal. On Nov. 1, 1921, he issued Marine Corps Order No. 47, Series 1921, which provided a summary of the history, mission and traditions of the Corps. The illustrious Lejeune directed that the order be read to every command each subsequent year on Nov. 10 in honor of the founding of the Marine Corps.