Dress Blues
As a Marine, you will proudly wear a uniform that has symbolized the best of our nation for more than two centuries. Marine "dress blues" is the only uniform made up of all three colors of our nation's flag. The buttons of the uniform, featuring the Eagle and Anchor, have been on the uniform since 1804, making them the oldest military insignia in continued use.
The "Blood Stripe" is a scarlet stripe that runs down each trouser leg of the dress blues uniform. Originally it honored those Marines who had fallen in battle in the "Halls of Montezuma" during the Mexican War, in 1847. Today, the Blood Stripe honors the memory of all our fallen comrades�brave warriors who fought hard to defend our freedom and democracy.
Marines have been called "leathernecks" for more than two centuries. The name is rooted in the American Revolutionary War when Marine uniforms included a leather stock, or neckpiece. The neckpiece was designed to protect Marines' necks from sword blows during ship boardings. While Marines no longer wear leather collars, today's Marine dress blue uniform sports a high-neck collar.
