press photo by douglas graves All Marines and friends and relatives of Marines are invited to an annual ceremony to celebrate the 247th birthday of the United State Marine Corps Thursday, Nov. 10 starting at 4 p.m. at Cedar Beach Park in Allentown. The public and U. S. Marines, Fleet Marine Force Navy Corpsmen, Fleet Marine Force Chaplains, and their families have been gathering every Nov. 10 at the iconic U. S. Marine Corps Memorial in Cedar Beach Park to celebrate the annual birthday of the Marine Corps. The ceremony is simple, but emotional. Marines and FMF Sailors attend from every modern war, from young to old, active duty, retired, and those that did one hitch, all gather in camaraderie and fellowship to hear the inspiring message to all Marines from famed World War I General John A. Lejeune and other, modern military leaders to include the current Commandant of the U. S. Marine Corps. The ceremony concludes with the traditional cutting of the birthday cake where the oldest and the youngest Marine, FMF Corpsman or FMF Chaplain are served the first pieces.