WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts was honored today as the most senior Marine in the U.S. Senate at a cake cutting ceremony on the 234th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps.

“I want to wish a happy 234th birthday to the Marine Corps,” Senator Roberts said. “Our 13th Commandant Lt. Gen. John Lejeune’s order in 1921 summarized the history, mission, and traditions of the U.S. Marine Corps and directed that the order be read to all Marines throughout the world on 10 November of each year, the birthday of the Corps, founded in 1775.

“This unique holiday for Marine Warriors is a day of camaraderie, a day of pride, a day to honor Corps and Country. Throughout the world, U.S. Marines celebrate the birth of their Corps- the most loyal, most feared, most revered, most lethal, and most professional fighting machine the world has ever known.

“I am proud to be honored by the Marines on this 234th birthday. In this time of military conflict, I deeply appreciate the many sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform to protect the American people. Semper Fi!”

Since the original 1921 order, the annual birthday celebration has grown and evolved. In 1952, the Commandant, Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr., formalized the cake-cutting ceremony and other traditional observances. For example, the Marine Corps policy now mandates that the first piece of cake be presented to the most seasoned Marine present. The second piece goes to the most junior Marine. Among the many such mandates is a solemn reading of the Commandant’s annual birthday message to the Corps.

At the cake cutting ceremony today, the Marine Corps honored Senator Roberts as the most senior Marine in the U.S. Senate and Private Shakiyla Rivera as the most junior Marine, born in 1991, who reported for duty in August 2009 at the Marine Barracks in Washington, DC.

Senator Roberts is a former Marine representing the state of Kansas in the United States Senate. For more information on the Marine Corps, visit www.marines.mil .

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