The United States Marine Corps turns 246 years old on November 10 and Marine Corps League Detachment 019 of Modesto is holding its annual birthday dinner to celebrate the occasion.

Guest of honor and keynote speaker will be a Vietnam Era Marine aviator Major William W. DeHart Jr. who once served under Oliver North. The detachment honor guard will perform the opening ceremony with flag presentation by the Beyer High School JrROTC. It will also include the traditional cake cutting ceremony with help from the local Navy Sea Cadets.

Dinner will consist of a choice between chicken or beef, salad, au-gratin potatoes, dinner rolls and birthday cake for desert. Tickets are $70 a couple, single tickets $40 and active duty Marines and FMF Corpsman and Gold Star parents of Marines and FMF Corpsman eat free.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at the Stanislaus Veterans Center, 3500 Coffee Road in Modesto. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Jim Laurenti at 209-526-9068 or 209-681-1376.