PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. - The Defense Contract Management Agency Springfield, headquartered at Picatinny Arsenal, hosted a 242nd U.S. Army birthday celebration on June 14 for installation employees and families.
The day began with a 5K run/walk, followed by a cake cutting ceremony at the Choices Cafeteria. The ceremony opened with music and singing of the National Anthem by members of the Picatinny choir. The Picatinny Arsenal garrison chaplain, Lt. Col. Terrence Walsh, gave the invocation before the installation's Senior Commander, Brig. Gen. Alfred F. Abramson III, delivered his remarks.
"Today we gather to celebrate the Army's birthday," Abramson said. "We share this observance with Flag Day, when the stars and stripes were adopted."
"There are 189 campaign streamers on the flag today, and 184,000 Soldiers deployed to more than 140 countries around the globe," Abramson said.
Abramson was then joined by Spc. Riki Acosta as the two Soldiers cut the official birthday cake.
The event concluded with a historical review of Picatinny Arsenal's mission dating back to 1749, before the U.S. Army officially came into existence.
Jeff Ranu, Picatinny historian, said: "Picatinny Arsenal has played a role in each and every conflict that the U.S. Army has been involved in."
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