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226th United States Marine Corps Birthday Ball

November 9, 2001

November 9, 2001, Vilnius-- On Saturday evening, November 10, U.S. marines and their guests will gather at the Iron Wolf Brigade Staff Headquarters to celebrate the 226th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps. The event marks the Third Annual Marine Ball being held in Vilnius and is a festive occasion for all. Ambassador John F. Tefft will have the honor of welcoming the Lithuanian Minister of Defense, Linas Linkevicius, and the Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, Major General Jonas Kronkaitis, to make remarks during the formal ceremony that precedes dinner and an evening of socializing and dancing.

This is first time that the ball is being held at a Lithuanian military facility.

As part of the formal program, a specially-baked and frosted marine birthday cake is ceremoniously carried into the dining hall by servicemen attired in their best uniforms. According to tradition, the cake is cut with a long sword and the first two pieces are given to the most senior and most junior marines in attendance.

In Lithuania, Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Malay is the only active duty Marine. He is a member of the U.S. Embassy’s Military Liaison Team. For more than fifty years, the United States Marines have been providing internal security for U.S. Missions around the world and serving the Department of State's Embassies and Consulates. The U.S. Embassy in Vilnius is also expecting a Marine Corps Security Guard Detachment to arrive in the spring of 2002 to assist the mission in meeting its internal security needs.

The United States Marine Corps was established by an act of the Continental Congress on 10 November 1775. Many kinds of celebrations take place around the world to honor this special day as Marines, their friends and family pause to honor the history, traditions, and legacy of their Corps.