Andrews – A U.S. Marine Corps tradition will continue locally.
On or near Nov. 10 each year, Marines around the world celebrate the Marine Corps’ birthday with a ball featuring a formation, the cutting of a cake, recognizing the oldest and youngest Marines in attendance, and a reading of 13th Marine Corps Commandant Gen. John A. Lejeune’s birthday message.
The U.S. Marine Corps League, Cherokee Detachment 1011, will host its ball at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7620, 190 First St. Dress for the occasion is casual, and everyone in the community is invited to celebrate.
The event is free. Donations will be welcomed for the entertainment, which once again will be the Sea Notes.
The evening’s guest speaker will be Jan Griggs, who joined the Marines in 1979 and retired in 2002.
Commandant Frank Bailey said the detachment would do what they need to do to keep attendees safe during the event.
Sgt. Major of the Marine Corps Troy Black, the top enlisted Marine, said in a social media post on July 24 that while COVID-19 restrictions may still be in place and celebrations may be limited on Nov. 10, the traditions of the occasion could still be done while following requirements and guidelines. He shared how he celebrated in Iraq in 2005 by flashlight.
“As we spent the night moving from from position to position, I was reminded of what is most unique and most important to us as a Corps, that is: being with Marines, accomplishing the mission, and staying true to our customs and courtesies, even in the midst of our shared adversity,” Black wrote.
Other celebrations – including the 2020 Commandant’s Birthday Ball in Washington, as well as ones held at Camp Pendleton in California and Camp Lejeune in North Carolina – have been canceled.
The Marine Corps turns 245 years old on Nov. 10.