Boston Marines Celebrate Corps Birthday at Ball
Hundreds of Marines gathered at the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center for the Boston Semper Fidelis Society's annual Birthday Ball.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Awards
The Boston Semper Fidelis Society held its US Marine Corps Birthday Ball at the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, where hundreds of Marines gathered to mark the Corps' 251st birthday. US Marine Corps General Bradford Gering gave the keynote address at the luncheon.
Why it matters
The event marks a long-running Boston tradition that traces back to a 1987 luncheon honoring Marine Corps friends of founder Tom Lyons who were killed in the Vietnam War. The ceremony highlights the passing of Marine traditions across generations.
The event has been held for nearly 40 years, beginning with an 18-person luncheon in 1987 at Joe Tecce's Ristorante & Caffe in the North End. Today's gathering draws approximately nearly two thousand people to the Convention Center.
The players
Boston Semper Fidelis Society
A Boston-based organization of Marines and supporters that hosts the annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball.
Bradford Gering
A US Marine Corps general who delivered the keynote address at the Birthday Ball luncheon.
The details
The oldest Marine, 94-year-old Colonel Lewis Ferretti, took the first bite of a triple-layer red, white, and blue cake before passing the plate to the youngest attendee, an 18-year-old who finished basic training at Parris Island, S.C., three weeks earlier. The cake cutting symbolizes the passing of time from one generation to another.
Timeline
The Marine Corps was formed on November 10, 1775, in Philadelphia.
The first Birthday Ball luncheon was held in 1987 at Joe Tecce's Ristorante & Caffe in the North End.
The 2026 Birthday Ball luncheon was held at the Convention Center on November 2, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The Birthday Ball continues an observance dating to the Corps' founding in Philadelphia on November 10, 1775. The Boston chapter's annual event has carried that tradition for nearly 40 years.
Boston residents can attend or follow the Boston Semper Fidelis Society's events to observe Marine Corps traditions. The ceremony's public visibility offers a chance to recognize local veterans and their service.
The takeaway
The Birthday Ball shows how military traditions are passed from older to younger generations through shared rituals. The cake-cutting ceremony offers a concrete example of that continuity.
Further reading
Explore more Boston awards and honors coverage for related community recognition stories.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Boston Globe.
