Wednesday, October 13, 2010

HAPPY 235TH BIRTHDAY, UNITED STATES NAVY!

The United States Navy was established on 13 October 1775 making today our 235th anniversary.  For years, this day has been celebrated throughout the fleet on ships, from battleships, cruiser, destroyers, frigates, and gunboats, to air squadrons, and on remote bases and stations from the North Pole to the South.  This year the occasion was marked in the mountains of Afghanistan and the desert of Iraq as well.  The traditional ceremony is built around a large cake.  The crew is gathered at quarters and the commanding officer or master chief and the junior or youngest crew member share the duty of cutting the cake using either an officer's sword or an enlisted man's cutlass.  This year our cake was cut by our comapny CO, C/LCDR Justin Lucchese, and a member of our freshman class.  Check out the pictures below:

The Traditional Cake.  Note the officer's sword.



The crew, such as it is.  Note the expressions of delight.

The cutting, supervised by Cadets Adam Ballard and David Levien.