Army Celebrates 231st Birthday

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Army News Service | Katisha Draughn | June 12, 2006

Washington D.C. - Cake-cutting ceremonies, balls, special concerts and Soldier appreciation days will take place throughout the Army and around the world this week in honor of the Army’s 231st birthday.

This year’s theme is “Call to Duty – Boots on the Ground.”

“To all of our Soldiers around the world, our thoughts are with you and your families on this 231st Army Birthday. We are humbled by your sacrifices and awed by your achievements,” said Secretary of the Army Dr. Francis J. Harvey.

The celebration kicked off June 10 with the Army Birthday Ball in Washington, D.C.’s Hilton. Sponsored by the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2, on behalf of the Secretary of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Army, the ball featured performances by the USO Liberty Belles, the Jazz Ambassadors, the Volunteers, the Soldiers’ Chorus and Army Soldier Show Alumni.

Celebrations will continue 8 a.m. June 14 at Arlington National Ceremony. Army senior leadership will pay tribute to the nation's fallen heroes by placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

A cake-cutting ceremony will take place 11 a.m. in the Pentagon courtyard, following a 10:30 performance by the U.S. Army Chorale. Josh Gracin, country music singer known for being an American Idol finalist, will continue the event with a noon performance.

Interactive displays will be available in the courtyard from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Program Executive Office will showcase the Land Warrior, body armor, and other modern equipment and concepts. The Natick Soldier Center will showcase the Future Force Warrior and Future Concept Warrior.

In the event of inclement weather, the Pentagon ceremony, performances and displays will move to the Concourse.

A second cake-cutting ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

A Twilight Tattoo will culminate the day’s celebrations at 7 p.m. at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Twilight Tattoo is an hour-long sunset military pageant featuring Soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) to include: the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the U.S. Army Drill Team, the U.S. Army Band Blues Jazz Ensemble, and the U.S. Army Chorale.

A Senate and House cake-cutting ceremony will take place 11 a.m. June 15. Army officials will recognize the heroic contributions of Army units toward the Global War on Terror by announcing the award of campaign participation credit to eligible Army units that served and/or are serving in the theater of operations in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Three new streamers will be awarded to qualifying units: one for service in Afghanistan, one for service in Iraq and one for service in other geographic regions outside of Iraq and Afghanistan, such as Kuwait, Qatar or the Horn of Africa.

Army birthday celebrations will conclude with a Headquarters, Department of Army Birthday Run 7:30 a.m. June 16 at Fort Myer.