Courtesy Photo | Capt. Dave Manwiller, a logistics officer for Regional Support Command-Capital,...... read more read more
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CAMP PHOENIX, Afghanistan – Service members and civilians from NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan came together Nov. 10 to celebrate the 237th Marine Corps birthday at Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Afghanistan, with a motivational run and cake-cutting ceremony.
Approximately 30 former Marines, along with members of the other armed services, began the celebration with a motivational run led by U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Dave Manwiller, the Regional Support Command-Capital logistics officer and Staff Sgt. Tomas Hernandez, the End Use Monitoring noncommissioned officer in charge, RSC-Capital. The participants ran a 1.5 mile route around Camp Phoenix while chanting traditional Marine Corps cadence and proudly displaying both the U.S. Marine Corps colors and a personal guidon created by the Marines aboard Camp Phoenix.
Following the run, a cake-cutting ceremony took place at the Camp Phoenix dining facility. Guests bowed their heads in prayer led by Capt. Robert Jackson, U.S. Army chaplain, and then enjoyed this year’s birthday message, presented by Gen. James Amos and Sgt. Maj. Michael Barrett, the commandant and sergeant major of the Marine Corps. The video message honored the valiant efforts and sacrifices of Marines both past and present. Guest of honor, Col. Thomas E. Starr, director of Public Works for the Kabul Base Cluster, addressed the audience before the ceremonial cutting of the birthday cake.
Keeping true to the Marine tradition of slicing the first pieces of cake with an NCO or officer’s sword, the Camp Phoenix-based Marines adapted by using a KA-BAR knife, the traditional combat knife first adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps in November 1942. The first piece went to the guest of honor and the second to the oldest Marine present, who passed his piece to the youngest Marine present, symbolizing the passing of the history and the traditions to the next generation.
The oldest Marine present was Mr. Aaron Balderas, 61, the Acquisition Analyst for RSC-Capital, and although he has joined the ‘former Marine’ ranks, he still maintains the steadfast spirit of one. “It’s an honor to be a Marine,” said Balderas. “They made me who I am today.”
The second piece of cake was passed to the youngest Marine present, Cpl. Kristin K. Waupoose, who is currently assigned to Combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435, Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan.
Hernandez said, “It was an honor to celebrate the Marine Corps 237th Birthday here with my fellow Marines, past and present.”
| Date Taken: | 11.10.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.15.2012 10:48 |
| Story ID: | 97842 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 420 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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