U.S. Marine Corps to celebrate birthday this weekend

The Avenel Detachment of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) will hold its annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball at the Forge Inn on Nov. 7.

The U.S. Marine Corps will be celebrating its 234th birthday this year.

The annual birthday celebration dates back to Nov. 1, 1921, when Jon A. Lejeune, 13th commandant of the Marine Corps, directed that a reminder of the honorable service of the Marine Corps be published worldwide on the Corps' birthday. It has been officially celebrated on Nov. 10 ever since.

The celebration includes the traditional cake-cutting ceremony that is celebrated the same way by all Marines around the world. The first piece of cake that is cut goes to the youngest Marine at the ball and the second piece goes to the oldest Marine.

Capt. Brian Iglesias of the U.S. Marine Corps will be the detachment's honorary guest speaker for the night.

He served two tours of duty in Iraq. In 2003 he joined the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines in Iraq as a rifle platoon commander. Iglesias returned to Iraq in 2004 and conducted combat operations in the city of Ar Ramadi for a year.

Iglesias is now with the USMC 6th Motor Transport Battalion in Red Bank as an assistant inspector, instructor and operations officer.

Iglesias enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1995, graduating from Parris Island as a private first class, and rose rapidly through the ranks to second lieutenant in 2002.

He has been awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action ribbon.

Iglesias has a Bachelor of Arts degree in filmmaking from Temple University in Philadelphia and is currently producing and directing a documentary on the Korean War's Chosin Reservoir campaign.

All U.S. Marines —past, present and future — are welcome to attend with their families and friends as well as the general public. For ticket information, contact Detachment Commandant Joe Hientjes at 732- 324-1837 or Senior Vice Commandant Joe Castelli at 732-636-6673.