Photo By Sgt. Jeff Drew | The guest of honor, the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Fully clad in their finest dress blue uniforms, Officers and staff noncommissioned officers with 2nd Marine Division gathered at the Goettge Field House to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 237th Birthday, Nov. 8. The night was young and the observance of traditions that surround the birthday was deeply rooted in the Marines.
The evening began with marching of the Colors and the reading of a message from General John A. Lejeune, the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps. The message is a reminder to the Marines of the honorable service of those who have come before them.
Next came the cake cutting ceremony, which represents a renewal of each Marines’ Commitment to the Corps. The first piece of cake, cut with the traditional Mameluke sword, was presented to the guest of honor, the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James F. Amos. The second piece was presented to the oldest Marine present, Baltimore native, Master Gunnery Sgt. Jerry H. Morris, the battalion maintenance chief for 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion.
The piece was then passed to the youngest Marine present as a symbol of the passing of knowledge. The youngest Marine was Chesapeake City, Md., native 2nd Lt. Henry L. Rodgers, a motor transport platoon commander with Headquarters and Service Company with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment.
Following the cake ceremony, a video was played of the commandant’s birthday message,which filled the field house with motivation. The bellowing voices of the commandant and the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. Micheal P. Barrett, reminded the Marines of their accomplishments during the Corps’ rich history.
When the screen went dark and the lights came up, the microphone was passed to Brig. Gen. James W. Lukeman, the 2nd Marine Division Commanding General.
“We (2nd Marine Division) have Marines and sailors all over the world right now,” said Lukeman. “They continue to do exactly what the nation has asked and they have done it magnificently every time.”
Lukeman then introduced the evening’s guest of honor.
“I get to brag about you almost every single day, either in the Pentagon or in front of the press,” mentioned Amos. “The things that makes us different than any other service is because of who we are and our rich heritage of those who have gone before us. We don’t forget the 1,223 Marines that have been killed in action in both Iraq and Afghanistan and a big portion came from this division.”
The uplifting speech gave light and to the real purpose of the Marine Corps birthday celebration, remembering those who fought valiantly and could only attend the ball in spirit.
“We celebrate and put our spiffy uniforms on, and beside the fact that we feel pretty cool when we have them on, we do it and come here in remembrance of those who are gone,” said Amos.
The evening’s festivities came to a close with the 2nd Marine Division Band playing five selections including the “Guadalcanal March,” and “Follow Me.”
As the band marched off the Marines settled in for a celebratory dinner with friends and family, yet the words of the commandant still resounded inside the field house as a reminder of what makes the Corps so great.
“We are different than any other service,” said Amos. “Its nights like tonight that we remind ourselves of that. We toast those Marines who fought side by side with you but are not among us. This is a great occasion to remember exactly who we are. I can’t tell you how proud I am. I want to thank you for serving and thank our family members for their faithfulness. Ladies and gentlemen, remember why we are here tonight. I want you to enjoy every aspect of this. God bless every single one of you, happy birthday Marines and Semper Fidelis.”
| Date Taken: | 11.09.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.09.2012 13:14 |
| Story ID: | 97559 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 762 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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