Charles Phillips, Infor CEO, keynote speaker for Marine Corps Birthday Ball

Event marks 237th birthday of USMC

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., Dec. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Led by Lieutenant Colonel Phillip M. Bragg, 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines held its Marine Corps Birthday Ball in South Carolina this past weekend with Charles Phillips as the keynote speaker.  November 10th marked the actual 237th birthday of the United Marines Corps but the battalion was deployed at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan and returned in December after a highly successful deployment.  Sergeant Major Christopher J. Campbell is the senior non-commissioned officer of the battalion.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121221/DC33776)

2nd Bt, 10th Mar is an artillery battalion that provides fires in support of 2nd Marine Division using organic indirect fire assets while coordinating both lethal and non-lethal fires from other II Marine Expeditionary Force fire support agencies in order to suppress, neutralize or destroy enemy.

Charles Phillips is CEO of Infor, a New York City software company that is the third largest business applications company in the world.  Mr. Phillips is also a former Marine Captain who served in 2nd Bt, 10th Mar and was invited back to speak to the unit he served in while stationed at Camp Lejeune where he and his wife Karen were married.

Photographs documenting the ball can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/briicherriphotography/sets/72157632275284690/.

On November 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress resolved to raise two battalions of "American Marines." Congress commissioned 31-year-old Samuel Nicholas, a well-known Philadelphian, as captain of the fledgling force of Continental Marines. Nicholas raised two battalions of Marines and began the long, illustrious history of the United States Marine Corps.

On November 1, 1921, General John A. Lejeune issued Marine Corps Order No. 47, Series 1921. The order provided a summary of the history, mission, and traditions of the Corps. General Lejeune directed that the order be read to every command each subsequent year on November 10th in honor of the founding of the Marine Corps. This tradition has continued every year since 1921 throughout the Corps.

The first official "Birthday Ball" was held in 1925 in Philadelphia. No official records of the event were held prior to that date. Guests at the ball in 1925 included the Secretary of the Navy, General Lejeune, well-known national leaders, and representatives from all the military services.

On October 28, 1952, Commandant General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. directed the celebration of the Marine Corps Birthday be formalized throughout the Corps. The details were included in the Marine Corps Drill Manual approved in 1956. General Shepherd's order helped bring together the inclusion of a cake ceremony and other traditions still held every year at the Marine Corps Birthday Ball.

In honor of the occasion, Phillips Charitable Organizations (www.phillipscharitable.org) contributed a special donation to the Marine Semper Fi Fund.

CONTACT:
1stLt Dale Chung
910-450-8118

SOURCE USMC Birthday Ball