Ashlee Wright... VIEW ORIGINAL
Charmain Z. Brackett
Correspondent
FORT GORDON, Ga.--(June 15, 2009) The Soldiers of today have something in common with the patriots who fought in the Revolutionary War and braved the tough winter of Valley Forge.
"It's easy to serve in the Army during peace time. You never have to put your life on the line. It wasn't that way in 1776, and it's not that way now," said Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Foley, U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon commanding general at the Army birthday cake cutting ceremony June 12 at Conrad Hall.
"There is no one in the Army today that is a summer Soldier or sunshine patriot," he said.
The ceremony featured a parade of historical uniforms from the Revolutionary War era to the current Army Combat Uniform.
The first uniforms were blue, which was the national color, and were made of wool.
Over the years, they've come in various colors such as olive drab, Army green No. 107, khaki and chocolate chip and materials including rayon, polyester, nylon and cotton.
The ceremony culminated with a cake cutting featuring Foley, Command Sgt. Maj. Vernon Praymous and two of the youngest Army personnel on post, Pvt. Jacob Strine, the youngest Soldier, and 2nd Lt. Jason Rapp, the youngest officer.
The Army's 234th birthday was June 14. It is the oldest military service organization.
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