The Bethlehem Detachment 284 and the Lehigh Valley Detachment 296 of the Marine Corps League will hold a celebration of the 248th birthday of the United States Marine Corps.

This free event open to the public will be held 4-5 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Marine Corps Memorial at the east end of Cedar Beach Park at Hamilton Street and Ott Street, Allentown.

This annual celebration of the birthday of the United States Marine Corps is a simple, heartfelt event to help you remember what being a Marine is about and to remember our fallen comrades.

Participants can expect to hear the national anthem, hear a message from the Commandant of the Marine Corps and meet some active duty Marines in their dress blues and some Marine Corps veterans who try to serve the community and keep their traditions alive.

This is an outdoor, rain or shine event.

Following the ceremony at the park there will be a birthday cake cutting ceremony at Christopher’s restaurant (also known as Thyme 2 Dine restaurant), 1519 Greenleaf St., Allentown.