Marine Corps birthday celebration will take place to commemorate the Marine Corps 235th birthday Wednesday, its vigor undiminished by age. Celebrations across the nation at different Marine Corps bases will be in place. One of the major celebrations will take place at Camp Lejeune, a training facility in North Carolina.
The ceremony, which will rededicate the National and Marine Corps Colors, involves Marines from II Marine Expeditionary Force, subordinate commands and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, according to base officials.
The birthday pageant will include the traditional cake-cutting ceremony and a procession of the Marine Corps uniforms dating from 1775 to the present. As tradition dictates, the oldest Marine and the youngest Marine present will share the first pieces of birthday cake, signifying the passage of wisdom and tradition from each generation of Marines to the next.
Aboard Cherry Point Air Station, Marines Marines will celebrate the birthday with a host of events throughout the week.
The air station will host a uniform pageant Tuesday, where Marines will showcase uniforms and weapons used from the Marine Corps inception in 1775 through modern times, according to Cherry point officials. Dozens of Marines will wear uniforms from throughout the Corps' history, representing the Marines who served during the Revolutionary Wars, both World Wars, Vietnam, and other conflicts. Aboard Cherry Point as well, Marines will participate in the traditional birthday cake-cutting ceremony.
Additionally, Marines of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing will embark on the annual commanding general's run, Wednesday, according to releases. The commanding general of 2nd MAW, Maj. Gen, Jon M. Davis, will lead thousands of troops across more than three miles of Cherry Point roads in a formation run while signing cadence for motivation and carrying aloft flags of the Marine Corps and tenant units.
Units aboard every base have also joined in a signature element of Corps pageantry at ceremonies throughout this week: the Marine Corps birthday balls.
The new commandant of the Corps, Gen. Jim Amos, congratulated the troops in a recent birthday message, lauding Marines' past heroism and ongoing efforts, particularly in bringing greater stability to Iraq.
"Locations such as Fallujah and Ramadi have taken their place in the illustrious battle history of our Corps. Our efforts in defeating the insurgency helped to build a brighter future for all Iraqis," Amos wrote. "For 235 years, at sea and ashore, Marines have succeeded in every clime and place . . . where hardship and adversity have often been the common thread."
The Marines earned their nickname of "devil dogs" from the Germans they fought during World War I.The Marines' three core values have always been honor, courage and commitment, she continued, which set the branch apart from the other military services.
Sgt. Deb Butterfield of the Marine Corps League regional detachment said the Revolutionary War was the start of the service branch's heroism that continues today in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the globe.
Source: Yellowbrix
