243rd Navy Chahplain Corps Ball

Courtesy Photo | U.S. Navy Capt. J.P. Hedges, chaplain, Marine Corps Installations East, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune (left) thanks Brig.Gen. Karsten Heckl (right) for being the guest of honor at the 243rd Navy Chaplain Corps Birthday Ball at Marston Pavillion on MCB Camp Lejeune Nov. 29. The U.S. Marines and Sailors commemorated the 243rd Chaplain Corps Birthday by reading the history of the Chaplain Corps and the cutting of the traditional birthday cake. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Jonathan Sosner)  

JACKSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES

12.03.2018

Courtesy Story

Marine Corps Installations East       

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – The 243rd Navy Chaplain Corps Ball was held Nov. 29 at the Marston Pavilion aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
The Chaplain Corps was founded Nov. 28, 1775 only 18 days after the Marine Corps and since then, has worked side-by-side with Marines in nearly every major conflict, according to their website.
“An anniversary is by definition a celebration of a journey of how you got to where you are today. Tonight we are talking about 243 glorious years of our chaplain corps,” said Brig. Gen. Karsten Heckl, Commanding General of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, also the guest of honor. “Navy chaplains have played an absolutely crucial role in the Marine Corps from the very beginning, in war and peace and tonight we’re acknowledging their 243 years of service.”
The celebration began with an opening prayer, the reading of the Chaplain Corps history and the presentation of the Missing Man table, which honors the memory of fallen, missing or imprisoned service members.
After the opening ceremony the birthday cake was cut, with the oldest and youngest commissioned chaplain sharing the first slice.
During his speech, Brig. Gen. Karsten Heckl spoke about his personal experiences with Navy chaplains, and how they had been there to help him throughout his career, sharing a story about the overwhelming calmness that he witnessed a chaplain bring to a widow who had just found out that her husband passed away.
“I have never seen or felt anything like that come over a room before in my life,” said Heckl. “With his presence alone he was able to console and calm down a woman who was undoubtedly going through one of the worst experiences of her life.”
The ceremony closed with Marines from the 2nd Marine Division Band playing ‘Anchors Aweigh’ as well as the Marines Hymn.

• Date Taken: 12.03.2018
• Date Posted: 12.04.2018 10:50
• Story ID: 302148
• Location: JACKSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, US