Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany celebrates the U.S. Marine Corps’ 249th birthday
Albany’s MCLB performs flag ceremony at 249th birthday celebration
Staff Photo By Lucille LanniganBy Lucille Lannigan
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MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE-ALBANY – Marines at the logistics base in Albany celebrated the U.S. Marine Corps’ 249th birthday by cutting a cake and celebrating history through a uniform pageant Friday morning.
“For 249 years, Marines have served as our nation’s sentinels of freedom,” a message from Eric Smith, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, read. “As we celebrate our Corps’ birthday this year, I encourage all Marines to reflect on our legacy forged in blood on battlefields since 1775, and to rededicate ourselves to carrying that legacy untarnished into the future.”
The team at MCLB-Albany walked guests through the history of the Corps, displaying different uniforms worn at different moments in history. Guests included about 200 JROTC cadets from Dougherty, Westover and Colquitt high schools
Col. Matthew McKinney, the commanding officer of MCLB-Albany, said he hopes that the junior Marines and younger high school students got to see what it’s like to be a Marine as well as interact with current Marines. He said he was hopeful they would one day choose to join the ranks.
“The Marine Corp is very proud of our history,” he said. “Every year, we gather to celebrate and commemorate our birthday, and this pageant just helps Marines connect to history and those who have gone before them and served in the Marine Corps.”
The pageant began with the formation of the Marine Corps on Nov. 10, 1775. The corps was formed to be able to serve during the war between Great Britain and the American colonists. U.S. Marines were present for the War of 1812, the Civil War and World War I, where they first earned the nickname “Devil Dogs” after the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918.
Live cannons were fired for the World War II portion of the pageant, which celebrated women and African Americans joining the armed forces for the first time.
Pageant participants guided the audience through brief histories on the Marine Corps’ involvement in the Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm to the global war against terrorism in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
“America’s Marines remain today as we have for 249 years – steadfast and true to the ideals that made our nation great,” the narrator said. “America’s Marines are fighting soldiers of the sea with an unparalleled line of accomplishments and innovation.”
City and county leaders, families of Marines and veterans, wearing red caps, filled the audience.
McKinney recognized these former Marines.
“Let us also remember those who have worn our dress blues, but today continue to serve in anonymity among us; those quiet professionals who have taken what they received from the corps and returned it to our nation throughout their lives will continue to be honored,” he said. “They may not be as lean, definitely not as mean, but they are still undoubtedly, 100% Marine.”
The second part of the celebration was the cutting of the traditional Marine Corps birthday cake. McKinney cut the cake. Retired First Sgt. Anthony Wade received the first slice. Retired Master Sgt. John Richard received the second slice. He then passed the slice to the youngest Marine present, Lance Cpl. Alex Loja, signifying the passing of experience and knowledge from the old to the young of the Corps.
Next year will be the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday.
“Two hundred fifty is going to be amazing,” McKinney said.
He said the planning committee has already formed and will begin planning the 250th celebration in January.
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