Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
Established in 1801, Marine Barracks Washington, is the "Oldest Post of the Corps" and has been the residence of every commandant of the Marine Corps since 1806. The selection of the site for the Barracks was a matter of personal interest to President Thomas Jefferson, who rode through Washington with Lt. Col. William Ward Burrows, the second commandant of the Marine Corps, in search of a suitable location. The site now occupied was approved due to its proximity to the Washington Navy Yard and because it was within easy marching distance of the Capitol.
8th and I
"The Oldest Post of the Corps"
Photo Information

"The President's Own" U.S. Marine Band participates in the 57th Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C., Jan. 21, 2013. More than 5,000 service members from all five branches of the military worked with Joint Task Force - National Capital Region to support the inauguration.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Ian Bush

Barracks Marines support 57th Presidential Inauguration

23 Jan 2013 | Sgt. Dengrier M. Baez Marine Barracks

More than 350 Marines with Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., supported the 57th Presidential Inauguration here Jan. 21.

Barracks Marines provided support for the President of the United States Barack Obama’s swearing-in ceremony and inaugural parade.

Much of the support came from Companies A and B, the Barracks’ two ceremonial Marching Companies. Nearly 30 Marines from Company A supported the event and Company B provided more than 80 Marines during the inaugural celebration.

“I got to participate in something that not every service member gets on opportunity to be in,” said Lance Cpl. Tim Parrish Jr., 21, a ceremonial marcher with Company A and a native of Leesburg, Fla. “As an African-American Marine it was an honor to be part of such event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.”

Marching and musical elements of every branch of the armed forces as well as civilian components were featured during the parade, however, musical support for the inauguration ceremony itself was provided by “The Presidents Own” United States Marine Band. “The President’s Own” performed on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol playing Eugene Bagley's “National Emblem”, “The Star Spangled Banner” and other traditional music both before and after the 44th president’s swearing-in.

Following the ceremony, Barracks Marines supported the official escort of the President back to the White House.  Additionally, five select Marine officers from the “Oldest Post” led the Marine Corps component of the parade comprised of the United States Marines Band and an active and reserve company of Marines representing the entire Corps.

Other support duties were fulfilled by Barracks Marines such as the carrying of the official presidential colors, and the escorting of special guests at the Capitol building during the inauguration. 

"There were a lot of different parts to the inauguration and I'm very grateful to have been a part of the parade staff, where we got to really show how much pride we have in our nation as a service member and as a citizen," said Capt. Edward Hubbard, 28, a member of the Marine Corps service staff and native of Rye, N.Y.

Military support to the presidential inaugural is part of a grand military tradition, dating back to 1789.

Barracks Marines support ceremonial and security missions in the nation’s capital. Each year, the Marines support more than 30 parades and hundreds of ceremonies and functions to include funerals and sporting events across the country and globe while maintaining proficiency in their respective military occupational specialties and meeting their annual Marine Corps training requirements.