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Marine Corps council to host annual birthday ball
Marine Corps council to host annual birthday ball
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The U.S. Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Greater Rochester Inc. will continue its annual tradition this weekend with its 2018 USMC Rochester Ball. It is the second such event since the organization sidelined the ball for four years.
Saturday’s event will be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton and will celebrate USMC’s 243rd birthday. The birthday bash will feature the Coupe DeVilles and all branches of the Armed Forces are invited, as well as the public.
The council birthday balls are observances to celebrate the continuity of the Corps from generation to generation. “It’s partly an annual ceremony of re-dedication,” according to the organization’s 2017 annual report.
The U.S. Marine Corps dates to Nov. 10, 1775, when the Continental Congress resolved that “two Battalions of Marines be raised” to serve as landing forces and shipboard security for the recently organized navy fleet. Tradition has it that the Marine Corps was started at Tun Tavern in Colonial Philadelphia.
The Marine Corps Coordinating Council annually takes part in Toys for Tots, done in concert with the Marine Corps League, Cooper Marines, the Salvation Army and the Holley Hellhounds. Last year more than 41,000 toys were collected for more than 20,000 children in six area counties.
Normally an activity of local Marine Reservists, the council has taken responsibility for the tradition since Rochester lost its reserve unit three years ago. “Every child deserves a little Christmas,” the annual report states.
In Rochester, Marines have traditionally celebrated the Marine Corps birth date with a birthday ball. That fell by the wayside in 2013 when Rochester lost its Marine Reserve Unit. While the region still has a number of Marine reservists, organizationally they were folded into either the Buffalo or Syracuse Reserve Units.
Rochester area Marines then attended birthday balls in Buffalo or Syracuse. Last year, the Marine Corps Coordinating Council, an all-volunteer not-for-profit, sponsored the return of a formal, traditional birthday ball here.
Tickets for this year’s event can be purchased online.
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