# DLA Land and Maritime celebrates the 246th Birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps

/ Published Nov. 16, 2021
COLUMBUS, Ohio, 
On the eve of Veterans Day, members of the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime workforce paused to commemorate the U.S. Marine Corps’ 246th Birthday in a hybrid event at the Operations Center Nov. 10.

DLA Land and Maritime supervisory contracting officer and Marine veteran, Nicole Banks, served as master of ceremony and opened the program with a moment of silence for all 13 service members killed in action at the Kabul Airport on Aug. 26, 2021.

Land and Maritime Supply/Demand Analyst and Marine veteran Nicole Brown read the Marines’ Prayer, and a special 246th birthday message was shown in an inspiring and moving video narrated by the Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger.

“That was beautiful,” Banks said, “If you ask any Marine vet, they could tell you a list of all the things the Marine Corps gave them and it’s far more than what we put into it. I know that for myself most of the beautiful things I have in my life now are a result of me having been in the Marine Corps. My job, both my kids, both my degrees, my home.” 

                DLA Land and Maritime Commander Navy Rear Adm. Kristen Fabry chats with Marine Corps Maj. Kyle Huston to her left, DSCC Installation Site Director Daniel Bell and Marine Corps members past and present after the 246th Marine Corps Birthday ceremony at the DLA Land and Maritime Operations Center Auditorium Nov. 10.                            Marine Corps 246th Birthday                            DLA Land and Maritime Commander Navy Rear Adm. Kristen Fabry chats with Marine Corps Maj. Kyle Huston to her left, DSCC Installation Site Director Daniel Bell and Marine Corps members past and present after the 246th Marine Corps Birthday ceremony at the DLA Land and Maritime Operations Center Auditorium Nov. 10.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Shannon MormonVIRIN: 211110-D-LP749-0536

“It’s given me a way of giving back to the community in ways that I never could have imagined and I’m very grateful to be a Marine,” she added.

DLA Land and Maritime Commander Navy Rear Adm. Kristen Fabry served as the guest of honor and delivered the keynote at the event.

“This is why we do this,” she said. “No matter where we are, Marines honor this day.”

Fabry recalled last year she was at business school and there were two to three Marines there who took the time out to make sure a cake was cut to honor the day.

“So, definitely, the few, the proud Marines rings true,” she added.

She acknowledged the Marines present in the DLA Land and Maritime workforce both in person and watching virtually. She spoke of the Corps’ proud history and conflicts they have been a part of for more than two centuries, noting how the Marine Corps values of courage, honor and commitment are engrained into every Marine. She cited examples such as the five Marines and one Navy corpsman who raised the U.S. Flag at Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima among others.

“What an iconic image,” Fabry said, “It’s one that represents the pride and determination Marines have exhibited throughout their history of service.”

She then spoke of the close ties between the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marines from the very beginning of their shared history noting that Marines were originally defined as “ground forces coming from the sea.”

She noted that this kinship between the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marines is a close association more so than other services.

She recalled in her time at the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating cadets had a choice of which service to go into: Navy or Marine Corps.

Of her class Fabry said, “I’m proud to say almost a quarter of my classmates who are flag or general officers are Marines.”

She said that from her career on various aircraft carriers, never more present were the Marines serving right alongside, flying missions in F-18s and other capacities and that the service of the Marines were critical to mission success.

She likened that experience with the experience of working alongside Marines past and present at Land and Maritime.

“We have a few good Marines here at DLA Land and Maritime, many in the audience today, that you serve alongside past and present and still serving in the civilian ranks,” Fabry said.

That relationship between the Marines and the Navy is ever present in her daily work life as a Marine, Maj. Kyle Huston, serves as her executive assistant.

“It’s that kinship that I keep in mind and feel empowered to leave with you today,” she added.

She ended with mentioning that Marine Corps families and their support is as important as serving in the Marine Corps itself.

Brown then read Lt. Gen. John Lejeune’s 1921 birthday message to the Marine Corps as is tradition in the birthday ceremony and Banks read Commandant Berger’s letter which was published in last week’s Connection Newsletter. Lejeune was the Marine Corps’ 13th commandant.

Due to safety concerns, the traditional cake cutting was replaced with specially made cupcakes given to the guest of honor, the oldest Marine present and the youngest Marine present.

The first cupcake was given to Fabry as guest of honor then the second and third cupcakes were given to the oldest Marine present, Defense Supply Center Columbus Installation Site Director Dan Bell, who in turn gave the third cupcake to the youngest Marine present, DLA Land and Maritime Land Supply Chain Analyst Kyle Stein.

The passing of the cake from the oldest to the youngest Marine symbolizes the passing of history and tradition to the next generation and symbolizes the experience and youthful spirit that are the hallmarks of the Corps.

Bell enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1977 and served as both enlisted and as an officer, retiring with the rank of Captain in October of 1999. He joined DLA in August 2001 and will be retiring next month as site director.

Stein enlisted in the Marine Corps in July of 2004 and was discharged with a rank of Sergeant in August of 2013. He joined DLA in December of 2020 as a land supply chain analyst. He will be transitioning to be a supply system analyst at the end of November.

The program concluded with the playing of Anchors Aweigh and the Marines’ Hymn.

Cupcakes and drinks were available to all in attendance.

05:16VIDEO  | 05:16 |The 246th Marine Corps Birthday Message