Fort Benning celebrates 243rd Army Birthday

Photo By Markeith Horace | FORT BENNING, Ga. (June 14, 2018) – Staff Sgt. William Lopez, second from left, an instructor at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, one of the most senior Soldiers on post, made the first cut of the cake with Brig. Gen. David A. Lesperance, left, the U.S. Army Armor School commandant. Pvt. Emmaleigh Jacob, second from right, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment, one of the most junior Soldiers on post, made the second cut of the cake with Maneuver Center of Excellence Command Sgt. Maj. Scott A. Brzak, right. The Maneuver Center of Excellence held a cake-cutting ceremony June 14 at the headquarters at Fort Benning, Georgia, in celebration of the 243rd anniversary of the U.S. Army’s founding in 1775. (U.S. Army photo by Markeith Horace, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning Public Affairs)  

FORT BENNING, GA, UNITED STATES

06.14.2018

Story by Bryan Gatchell 

Fort Moore Public Affairs Office

FORT BENNING, Ga. (June 14, 2018) – The Maneuver Center of Excellence held a cake-cutting ceremony June 14 at the headquarters at Fort Benning, Georgia, in celebration of the 243rd anniversary of the U.S. Army’s founding in 1775.

Staff Sgt. William Lopez, an instructor at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, one of the most senior Soldiers on post, made the first cut of the cake with Brig. Gen. David A. Lesperance, the U.S. Army Armor School commandant. Pvt. Emmaleigh Jacob, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment, one of the most junior Soldiers on post, made the second cut of the cake with Maneuver Center of Excellence Command Sgt. Maj. Scott A. Brzak.

Lesperance spoke at the event and reflected on both the Army’s and Fort Benning’s history.

“Not only is it the 100th year of the formation of our current installation and the delivery of trained Soldiers and leaders to the maneuver force, it’s also the centennial of our entry into World War I,” said Lesperance. “It really was the foundation of the innovative, highly lethal and professional Army that we have today.”

The U.S. Army was founded June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of expert riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year.

This year is the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Fort Benning. Infantry School of Arms staff and Soldiers from Fort Sill, Oklahoma, arrived to the Columbus, Georgia, area Oct. 1, 1918, and an 84-acre farm on Macon Road was named Camp Benning Oct. 19.

For video of MCoE and Fort Benning’s Army birthday celebration, visit https://vimeo.com/275126052.

For photos of the celebration, visit www.fortbenningphotos.com/Ceremonies-and-Events/Historic-or-Significant-Events/2018-06-14-Army-Birthday-Cake-Cutting.

• Date Taken: 06.14.2018
• Date Posted: 06.14.2018 15:44
• Story ID: 280966
• Location: FORT BENNING, GA, US