Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Tue, 11 Nov 2008
Liberty University School of Law recently celebrated the 233rd birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. November 10 is the day Marines, retired Marines, and their dependents observe across the nation as the birthday of “the Corps” with birthday balls and birthday parties laden with tradition.
This year, 2008, marks the third year that the law school has honored the military with this event. Two law faculty members, Associate Dean Jeffrey C. Tuomala (pictured back left) and Associate Professor Robert G. Ulrich (back right) are retired Marine Corps Colonels. Three law students are also Marines: Edward Reyes (front left), Bellamy Brown (front right), and Amanda Babbitt (center). Each made a brief contribution to the ceremony, along with Liberty’s Vice President of University Relations, Dr. Barry N. Moore, providing historical background on the founding of the Marine Corps in 1775 and its birthday traditions.
The highlight of the annual celebration is the cake-cutting ceremony in which the oldest Marine present and youngest Marine present share in the first pieces of cake, cut with a sword. This year, the law school event also included a display of Marine memorabilia. Law faculty, staff, and students joined many Marines from the Liberty University and Lynchburg, Virginia, communities who were present for the celebration.