WEATHERFORD — Young and old, former and current, Marines of all ages gathered at American Legion Post #163 in Weatherford Friday night to celebrate a big birthday.
The Marines, which was established in 1775, celebrated birthday number 236 on Nov. 10. The Weatherford post celebrated the event Friday in accordance with Veterans Day.
“We have done this for 11 years in Weatherford,” Dan Dutton, who was a staff sergeant in the Marines, said.
Dutton served as the master of ceremonies Friday night, leading Post #163 in the annual celebration. “The whole concept is that all Marines all over the world celebrate,” he said.
And the Marines even symbolically recognize their brothers in arms whose locations are unknown and those who have been lost with a special table. The table consists of a rose, symbolizing their bloodshed and the remembrance friends and families hold for them, a lemon symbolizes the bitter taste of their fate and salt represents the endless fallen tears shed in their loss.
After the cake is cut with a non-commissioned officers, or NCO, sword, the prisoners of war and those missing in action are the first to be honored.
“The first piece of cake will always go to the POW/MIA table for the Marines who cannot be here,” Dutton said. “The next two pieces go to the youngest Marine here and the oldest Marine here – that’s to show continuity between the old and the new.”
Dutton said the event symbolizes an old saying, “Once a Marine, always a Marine,” because it is an opportunity for all Marines to gather and celebrate with one another.
Former Marine Corporal Barry Goodson said it is hard to put into words the esteem Marines hold for one another, but he summed the event up easily.
“It’s one word – camaraderie,” Goodson said.
