Brussels Garrison Celebrates Army Birthday

By Thad Moyseowicz (USAG Brussels Public Affairs)June 22, 2009

Army Birthday in Brussels
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USAG Brussels Celebrates Army Birthday
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The Brussels Garrison, children from the garrison\'s youth programs and assorted well-wishers from NATO Headquarters celebrated the Army's 234th birthday on Tuesday, June 16. The garrison elected to observe the date two days after the official birthday.

"We were totally involved in supporting the NATO Defense Ministerial in the weekdays leading up to the Sunday, and we preserved the following Monday as a USAREUR training holiday for our Soldiers," explained acting Deputy Garrison Commander, Vince Crepeau.

In recognition of the Army's Year of the NCO, the ceremony was NCO-led. Sgt. 1st Class Cortillian Andrews served as Master of Ceremonies, Staff Sgt. Markita James offered a prayer and Sgt. Steven La Plume, the Benelux NCO of the first quarter, read the proclamation.

The formal portion of the ceremony concluded with the singing of the Army song, with Brussels youth leading off. A birthday cake-cutting was held, with the cutting sword held by the oldest and youngest Soldiers (garrison commander Lt. Col. Darin Conkright and Spc. Joshua Nichols of the NATO Clinic) and Sgt. La Plume.