About the Marine Corps League

The Marine Corps League was founded by Major General Commandant, John A.Lejeune, in 1923 and was chartered by an Act of Congress on August 4, 1937. Its membership of 60,000 is comprised of honorably discharged, active duty and Reserve Marines with 90 days of service or more and retired Marines. It includes officer enlisted, male and female members. 

The League is a veteran’s organization of the U.S. Marines. It is composed of Marines and former Marines with honorable service. It aims to perpetuate the traditions and spirit of the U.S. Marine Corps through the continuous association of Marines who served under the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor at any time, in war or peace. 

There are League detachments all across the country, and regular meetings are conducted under a unified ritual, with the Marine Corps spirit and atmosphere predominating. 

The one and only membership qualification for the League is honorable service in excess of 90 days in the Marines.  This means that, regardless of rank held, regardless of when or where a Marine served, regard less of what division or wing he may or may not have served with, that Marine, male or female is welcome in the Marine Corps League. 

A common trait of League members is the spirit of Semper Fidelis, the spirit of being ‘Always Faithful” to the Country, the Corps, and to their fellow Marines, in- service and out. So deep is this ingrained in members that, long after most have hung up the uniform for the last time, they still dare to call each other “Marine.” Each seems to hold the League slogan as a personal truth, that of “Once a Marine—Always a Marine,” 

Being a Marine is what it’s all about. John A. Lejeune, who founded the Marine Corps League in 1923, put this first above all else. Although he was the Major General Commandant of the Corps, a decorated hero of the First World War, and the former Commanding General of the victorious Second Army Division, he said his first claim to fame was, “I am a Marine!” All his other attainments came farther down the list. There was nothing more important to him. 

The U.S. Congress felt that the purposes of the Marine Corps League were so valid that in 1937 it granted the League a federal charter. 

League members know a special bond of comradeship unique to those who have worn the Marine Emblem. The members look after one another and assist the widows and orphans of their Marines. They observe national holidays such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and days of special interest to Marines like ‘the Birthday,” the landings at Guadalcanal, Inchon, and DaNang, the anniversary of the flag raising at Iwo Jima, and the day the Fourth Marine Brigade entered Belleau Wood. 

Perhaps the Marine Corps League performs its most important service on the local level through programs of benefit to the communities. Many detachments, recognizing a need, embark on special programs to help advance their towns and cities. Others have adopted one of the Leagues national youth programs, the Young Marines, or the Youth Physical Fitness. These programs seek the mental, moral, and physical development of our youngsters. 

The League is classified as a veterans / military service organization and was formed for the purposes of promoting the interests of the U. S. Marine Corps; to provide camaraderie and assistance to Marines, as well as to their widows and orphans; and to preserve the traditions of the U.S. Marine Corps. It is a not-for-profit organization within the provisions of Internal Revenue Service Code 501 (c) (4) with a special group exemption letter which allows for contributions to the Marine Corps League, it’s Auxiliary and subsidiary units, to be tax deductible by the donor.