Marines celebrate birthday

Ball commemorates founding of Corps 235 years ago

November 7, 2010 at 12:59 p.m. | Updated November 7, 2010 at 12:59 p.m.

by Wes Duplantier, For The News Tribune

Pvt. Matthew Whitebull digs into his slice of cake at a Saturday ceremony in Jefferson City to commemorate the 235th anniversary of the Marine Corps. Traditionally, the oldest and youngest Marines present at the ceremony eat the first slices of the cake and Whitebull, 19, was the youngest at this weekend's ceremony. He was joined by oldest Marine Ret. Cpl. Lloyd Cassmeyer, 82.
Pvt. Matthew Whitebull digs into his slice of cake at a Saturday ceremony in Jefferson City to commemorate the 235th anniversary of the Marine Corps. Traditionally, the oldest and youngest Marines present at the ceremony eat the first slices of the cake and Whitebull, 19, was the youngest at this weekend's ceremony. He was joined by oldest Marine Ret. Cpl. Lloyd Cassmeyer, 82.

Patriotic music flowed from a ballroom in the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City on Saturday night as dozens of members of the armed forces and their families gathered to celebrate the 235th anniversary of the country's armed forces.

Service members of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard came together for a birthday dinner and ceremony to commemorate the creation of the Marine Corps on Nov. 10, 1775. Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., spoke to the servicemen and women about working with the military.

A slice of cake went to the youngest and oldest Marines present at the ceremony.

Upcoming Events