COLOMBO — The U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka proudly celebrated the 250th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps at the annual Marine Corps Ball on November 15, honoring a quarter-millennium of the Corps’ unwavering commitment to its timeless values: Honor, Courage, and Commitment. Ambassador Julie Chung hosted the event which welcomed senior Sri Lankan defense leaders—including Deputy Minister of Defense Major General Aruna Jayasekara (retd.), Secretary to the Ministry of Defense Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (retd.), and other military dignitaries—along with members of the diplomatic corps and partners from across Sri Lanka.
This year’s celebration comes as the United States prepares to mark 250 years of independence in 2026, a reminder that the freedoms Americans cherish have endured because of generations of Marines who have stood faithfully on the front lines of defense.
A centerpiece of the celebration was the presence of Chief Warrant Officer Five (CWO5) Damon M. Hines, one of the Marine Corps’ most senior warrant officers, who served as the evening’s guest speaker. His participation held special meaning with the attendance of his son, Staff Sergeant Chris Hines, currently serving as a Marine Security Guard in Colombo—representing three generations of Marines upholding the Corps’ highest ideals. In keeping with tradition and the spirit of the occasion, CWO5 Hines presided over the reenlistment of two Marines from the Embassy detachment—an honor that reaffirmed their continued dedication to the Marine Corps’ core values and to the defense of the United States.
Ambassador Julie J. Chung delivered remarks honoring the Marine Corps’ distinguished legacy: “As we celebrate 250 years of the United States Marine Corps, we honor a legacy built on Honor, Courage, and Commitment. These values have carried Marines through every challenge—on the shores of Tripoli, across the Pacific, and today at diplomatic posts around the world. Our Marine Security Guards in Colombo live these values every day, and as America approaches its own 250th birthday, we are reminded that the freedoms we cherish endure because Marines stand always faithful. Semper Fidelis — Always Faithful.”
In marking this historic milestone, the Embassy also reflected on the legacy described in President Trump’s proclamation on the 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the United States Marine Corps, which commemorates the Marines’ extraordinary contributions across generations: “The Marine Corps was born in the fires of revolution when the Second Continental Congress established the Continental Marines by resolution on November 10, 1775. From the first combat action at Nassau in 1776, Marines have proven to be ruthless in battle, and lethal guardians of liberty and justice. From that moment onward, the Marines have helped shape the destiny of our Nation, fighting beside Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans, standing firm in the trenches of World War I at Belleau Wood, where they earned the nickname ‘Devil Dogs,’ and seizing victory after victory across the Pacific at Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. They confronted communism in Korea and Vietnam, upheld the right to self-government in the Persian Gulf, and brought justice to our enemies in the deserts and mountains of the Global War on Terror. Marines protect our embassies abroad, and ensure our Federal law enforcement can do their jobs here at home. Wherever liberty has been threatened, the Marine Corps has answered with strength, courage, and unyielding honor.”
