Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
Navy Corpsman Robert Lopez served as the master of ceremonies at the Marine Corps 243rd birthday celebration on Nov. 10, 2018
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
Lorraine Anglin sang The Star-Spangled Banner
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
Master Gunner Sgt. Dean Bearup, center, calls the posting of the colors, as Shawn Wells reaches for the American Flag and George Morrison III picks up the Marine Corps flag.
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
Danna Lopez led the Marine Corps prayer
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
Morrison and Wells carry the birthday cake
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
The birthday cake
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
Tip and Mary Cowan are recognized as Gold Star parents having lost their son during active duty.
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
At the head table were Robert and Danna Lopez
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
Melodie and George Morrison III also sat at the head table.
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
Sandra and Shawn Wells and their grandson Colton sat on one side of the head table.
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
USMC balloons flew above the tables
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
one side of the room
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
the other side of the room
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
Capt. Bob Schloss read his "I Am a Marine" poem.
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
Morrison read Commandant LeJeune's historic message from the first officially celebrated birthday in 1921.
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
Wells cuts the traditional first piece of cake with a sword.
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
Morrison offers the first piece of cake to the oldest Marine present. Gene Lewis takes the first bite.
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
Morrison then transfers the piece of cake to the youngest Marine present, Gilbert Moreno
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
Master Gunnery Sgt. Dean Bearup is the featured speaker
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
He offered a copy of the blank check that each Marine signs when he enters the service.
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
The empty table signifies the absence of the P.O.W.s and M.I.A.s with each item carrying its own significance.
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
The Sodexo crew at Western New Mexico University who prepared and served the meal.
Marine Corps 243rd birthday 111018
Bearup accepts the gift of a knife for serving as speaker from George Morrison II and Frank Donohue
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.