It's that time of year when Marines break out one of their rarest and most 'majestic' uniform accessories

"Every November, Marines dust off one of the rarest and most distinctive pieces in their wardrobe - a sweeping navy cloak lined in scarlet known to turn heads. The boat cloak, a uniquely Marine Corps flourish, makes its rare appearance during Marine Corps birthday balls, traditions observed in every unit on November 10. This year, the Marines, like the Army and Navy, celebrated their 250th birthday. The cloaks hold a special kind of reverence within the Corps, typically worn by Marines only for the ball with their most formal dress, and even then, it's exceptionally rare, making it all the more striking when one of these unique cloaks shows up."

"One cloak that appeared at a local gala this year has been passed down over nearly 80 years. "It is very majestic," said Thomas Connally, the current custodian of the cloak. "It adds a little something to the whole flair." Connally, a retired Marine colonel, still attends the local ball each year and dons his formal Marine attire, including the cloak if it's not too warm. It's a conversation starter, he said, and he'll even let others try it on - as long as they'll listen to him explain its history. It was hidden away for nearly 30 years, shared Mike Anderson, a retired Navy rear admiral whose father, a Marine officer who served in World War II and later Korea, originally purchased the cloak sometime in the 1950s. Anderson held on to the cloak after it was passed down, but he never wore it. Though he became the Corps' top medical officer, he was a sailor, and only Marines wear the special boat cloak. Anderson decided to pass the cloak on to two family friends, Connally and his brother, also a Marine, in the 1990s."

The navy boat cloak is a rare, historic Marine Corps uniform piece reserved primarily for formal birthday balls held each November 10. The cloak features a sweeping navy exterior and scarlet lining and carries ceremonial reverence within the Corps. One cloak has been passed through a family for nearly 80 years and was hidden for nearly 30 years before resurfacing at a local gala. Retired Marines sometimes don the cloak as a conversation starter while explaining its history. Rising social media interest may inspire more Marines to purchase the pricey cloak for formal events.

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