Marine Corps League celebrates 243rd birthday in Silver City 111018

Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

To celebrate the 243rd birthday of the Marine Corps, members and friends of Marine Corps League Gaffney-Oglesby Detachment 1328 gathered on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018 at the Western New Mexico University cafeteria.

As always, the event was full of tradition.

The evening began with master of ceremonies Navy Corpsman Robert Lopez opening the event with a request for the posting of the colors.

Marine Corps League members Shawn Wells and George Morrison III posted the American flag and the Marine Corps League flag as everyone joined in the Pledge of Allegiance. Lorraine Anglin sang The Star-Spangled Banner, and Danna Lopez led the invocation.

"We are here to honor those who came before us and those who will follow us," Robert Lopez said.

Wells and Morrison brought in the traditional cake for the cutting of the cake ceremony later in the evening.

Capt. Bob Schloss presented his "I Am a Marine" essay to list all the things that make a Marine a Marine.

The Marine Corps was founded by a committee of the Continental Congress, which met at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, Penn., to draft a resolution calling for the creation of two Marine battalions to be ready to fight for independence on sea and on shore. The resolution was approved on Nov. 10, 1775, the date that Marines celebrate each year, always on Nov. 10.

On Nov. 1, 1921, Gen. John A Lejeune issued Marine Corps Order No. 47, Series 1921, and directed the order be read to every command each subsequent year on Nov. 10 in honor of the founding of the Marine Corps.

The celebration of the birthday was formalized throughout the Corps in 1952 by Commandant Gen. Lemuel C. Shepard, Jr. The Marine Corps Drill Manual approved in 1956 helped bring together the traditions that continue today.

Morrison read Lejeuene's message at the Saturday 2018 event. It was followed by the reading of a message from the present Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert Neller, by Wells.

After the banquet, the traditional cutting of the cake took place. The cake was cut by Wells, using a ceremonial sword. The first piece of cake is offered to the oldest Marine present, who this year was Gene Lewis, 94, who entered the Marine Corps on Aug. 2, 1943 and later served in Okinawa during World War II.

"Leonard Pritikin was the oldest Marine for so many years, but he died this year at 98 years of age," Lewis said. "I feel humble following in his footsteps." He took the first bite of cake, which was then offered to the youngest Marine present, 29-year-old Gilbert Moreno who went into the Marines in 2008.

The guest speaker was one who many knew from past Marine Corps Birthday celebrations. Master Gunnery Sgt. Dean Bearup, for many years, was the master of ceremonies at the annual birthday celebration.

"You may call what we do each year as redundancy," Bearup said. "We call it tradition. It's been our script for 97 years."

He noted that the population of the U.S. is about 325 million, with 2,083,100 serving in the military. "Eligible for service each year are about 4 million. That means that six-tenths of a percent of the total population of the country is protecting the remaining 99.94 percent of the population."

Bearup showed a check filled out with the dollar amount as "my life forever" and "priceless" in the dollars line. The date was "anytime," with the check made out to the People of the United States of America. The memo line read "to protect your freedom." It was signed by .0063979753%.

Following his speech, an empty table represented the P.O.W.s and M.I.A.s who continue to be unable to join their families. Each item on the table, including the single empty chair, set for one, has a meaning.

After the conclusion of the event with a benediction, a DJ played music for dancing.