Col. (Ret.) Keil Gentry, director of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, cuts a birthday cake with a sword during a cake-cutting ceremony celebrating the 249th U.S. Marine Corps birthday at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., Nov. 10, 2024. (Kaylyn Barnhart/Stars and Stripes)
TRIANGLE, Va. — No matter where U.S. Marines are in the world, they pause to honor the birth of the Marine Corps. A day before Veterans Day, U.S. Marines across the country and overseas are celebrating 249 years of the branch’s traditions, history and service.
Marine veterans, active-duty military and families gathered at The National Museum of the Marine Corps on Sunday in Triangle, Va., for a time-honored cake-cutting ceremony, a longstanding Marine Corps birthday tradition.
“Today’s cake-cutting at the National Museum of the Marine Corps was a fitting tribute replete with music, a sword and Marines in dress blues,” said Col. (Ret.) Keil Gentry, director of the National Museum of the Marine Corps (NMMC).
There were two cake-cutting ceremonies, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and they were open to the public. Over 1,000 people filled the museum’s Leatherneck Gallery to recognize the Corps’ birthday and enjoy a piece of cake, compliments of the museum staff.
To begin the ceremony, the crowd stood at attention for the National Anthem, followed by Marines in their dress blues rolling the birthday cake on a cart to the center of Leatherneck Gallery where Gentry assumed the honors of cutting the cake with a sword to present to the oldest and youngest Marines in attendance, in accordance with tradition.
U.S. Marines in dress blues roll the Marine Corps birthday cake through a crowd of people in Leatherneck Gallery during a cake-cutting ceremony celebrating the 249th U.S. Marine Corps birthday at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., Nov. 10, 2024. (Kaylyn Barnhart/Stars and Stripes)
A guest takes a piece of birthday cake during a cake-cutting ceremony celebrating the 249th U.S. Marine Corps birthday at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., Nov. 10, 2024. (Kaylyn Barnhart/Stars and Stripes)
It is customary for the first slice of cake to be given to the guest of honor, which for both ceremonies was Brig. Gen. Matthew Tracy, commanding general of Education Command and president of Marine Corps University.
The second piece is given to the oldest Marine in attendance as a sign of honor and respect to experience and seniority. For the first ceremony, the oldest Marine was 91-year-old Staff Sgt. Al Ullman. For the second ceremony, 101-year-old John Jack Elliott — who is a veteran of World War II, Vietnam and Korea — was honored.
Staff Sgt. Al Ullman, 91, is presented a piece of cake by Col. (Ret.) Keil Gentry, director of the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Ullman was the oldest Marine in attendance during a cake-cutting ceremony celebrating the 249th Marine Corps birthday at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., Nov. 10, 2024. (Kaylyn Barnhart/Stars and Stripes)
Staff Sgt. Al Ullman, 91, who was the oldest Marine in attendance during a cake-cutting ceremony celebrating the 249th Marine Corps birthday at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., Nov. 10, 2024. (Kaylyn Barnhart/Stars and Stripes)
The oldest Marine then passes a piece of cake to the youngest Marine in attendance, symbolizing the passing of wisdom, knowledge and experience as well as trust and confidence in those who continue to carry on the Marine Corps traditions.
For the first ceremony, the youngest Marine was 22-year-old 2nd Lt. Joseph Yourkoski. The second ceremony was 19-year-old Lance Cpl. Jordan Art.
The playing of The Navy Hymn and The Marines’ Hymn closed the ceremony.
“Oorah. Semper Fi,” Ullman said.
The museum live-streamed both cake-cutting ceremonies for those who did not get a chance to join in person. The live-streams are also viewable on their YouTube channel.
