Marine Corps Marks 251st Birthday in New York
NASA astronaut Suni Williams joined Marines aboard USS San Antonio as the ship returned to New York City for the first time in 11 years.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Space
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Marines celebrated the Marine Corps' 251st birthday early Tuesday aboard USS San Antonio in New York City. Members of the Ceremonial Guard Drill Team and band performed on the ship's top deck, and the oldest Marine cut the cake with the Mameluke ceremonial sword before handing it to the youngest Marine.
Why it matters
The visit marks the ship's first New York City stop in 11 years, following a 14-year deployment and a 14-month deployment that ended three weeks before the celebration. For New Yorkers, it brings a service-branch anniversary and a veterans-focused week of events into public view.
The 251st anniversary of the Marine Corps was marked aboard a 684-foot ship that had not visited New York City in 11 years. The ship completed a 14-month deployment three weeks before the celebration, following a 14-year deployment cited in the source data.
The players
Suni Williams
A NASA astronaut and Navy veteran who spent nine months in space after Boeing Starliner technical problems extended her mission, and who serves as the 2026 Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshal.
USS San Antonio
A 684-foot Navy amphibious transport dock ship that hosted the Marine Corps birthday celebration and docked at Pier 88 in New York City.
The details
Members of the Ceremonial Guard Drill Team and band performed on the ship's top deck during the early Tuesday event. The oldest Marine cut the birthday cake with the Mameluke ceremonial sword and handed it to the youngest Marine present.
Timeline
March 2025: Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule after an extended mission.
April 2026: USS San Antonio recovered the Artemis II crew after their capsule landed in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego.
November 10, 2026: The Marine Corps' 251st birthday was celebrated aboard USS San Antonio in New York City.
November 11, 2026: The 107th Veterans Day Parade kicks off on Fifth Avenue at 12:30 p.m., led by Suni Williams.
Big Picture
The ship's visit and the Veterans Day Parade led by Suni Williams extend New York City's long-running Fifth Avenue Veterans Day tradition into a week of military-themed public events. The pairing of a Navy vessel visit with a Grand Marshal who recently completed a nine-month spaceflight places this year's observance within that established civic pattern.
New Yorkers planning to attend the Veterans Day Parade should expect Fifth Avenue to be the central public event on Wednesday afternoon. The celebrations are scheduled to continue through the week as the city observes Veterans Day.
The takeaway
The week's events show how a service-branch anniversary, a ship's homecoming, and a space mission can converge in one civic observance. Readers planning to watch the parade can arrive early on Fifth Avenue to secure viewing space.
What happens next
The 107th Veterans Day Parade kicks off Wednesday, November 11, at 12:30 p.m. on Fifth Avenue, led by Suni Williams.
Further reading
For more on the astronauts and missions behind this year's celebration, explore Space coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New York Post.
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