Semper fi: Marine Corps Birthday Ball an evening of stories, honor, brotherhood
Ryan Clawson, 32, shakes hands with Noelan "Mac" McCormack, 86, as the youngest and oldest Marines in the room are acknowledged Friday night during the Marine Corps Birthday Ball. Also pictured: Roy Kisner, 87, center.
DEVIN WEEKS/Press
Guest speaker Kerri Thoreson, daughter of the late Ron Rankin, a dedicated Marine, shares stories of her father Friday night during the Marine Corps Birthday Ball. The POW/MIA Table, set in honor of prisoners of war and service men and women missing in action, can be see in the foreground
Jay Lillefloren, left, and Ron Barnett, both with the Marine Corps League Pappy Boyington Detachment 966, participate in the traditional cake cutting Friday night at the Marine Corps Birthday Ball. The Marine Corps is celebrating its 247th year.
Stories were told, firm handshakes were exchanged and the traditions of the U.S. Marine Corps were carried out Friday night at the Marine Corps Birthday Ball.
About 220 guests, many clad in red and sporting sparkling gold buttons, enjoyed an evening of camaraderie as they celebrated the 247th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps.
The event has taken place in Coeur d'Alene for at least 20 years. This year, the occasion also happened to fall on Veterans Day.
"The Marine Corps takes a lot of pride in the Marine Corps," Marine Corps League Pappy Boyington Detachment 966 Commandant Ron Barnett said. "We're one of the few services that everybody knows the birthday, and most Marines celebrate the birthday. It's a big deal."
Held at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn, the ball featured a social hour followed by ceremonies to honor the fallen, honor each other and honor the oldest and youngest Marines in the room. Tears were shed during the Missing Man Table ceremony, which honors the service and sacrifice of the service men and women who were prisoners of war or went missing in action.
The evening could not be complete without the "Marine's Hymn," which attendees proudly and loudly sang: "From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli; We fight our country's battles in the air, on land and sea; First to fight for right and freedom and to keep our honor clean; We're proud to claim the title of the United States Marines."
Marine wife Tina Batha, past president of the Marine Corps League Auxiliary Pappy Boyington Unit, said she was happy and excited to be at the ball.
"It's a lot of camaraderie — the brotherhood, the sisterhood," she said.
"It's the Marine Corps Christmas party," Barnett chimed in, with a smile.
Vice Commandant Jay Lillefloren, with military ribbons and medals across his uniform, said the USMC is a small, but proud, organization.
"You can't miss a Marine — they all have the stickers and hats," he said.
The ball serves as a way for active service members and those who are no longer in the service to come together and celebrate what binds them — being a Marine, he said.
"This way, we celebrate the brotherhood," Lillefloren said. "Just about everybody here has been in combat. That brotherhood, it gets embedded in you. And it doesn't matter the conflict. We've all been through the same thing."
