Aberdeen Proving Ground celebrates Army's 235th

By Mr. David Mcnally (RDECOM)June 14, 2010

Aberdeen Proving Ground celebrates Army's 235th
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. -- America is celebrating the birthday of the United States Army today, June 14, 235 years after its formation before the Revolutionary War.

Aberdeen Proving Ground and Research, Development and Engineering Command Commanding General Maj. Gen. Nick Justice helped commemorate the day with a speech before the local chapter of the Association of the United States Army.

"We need to celebrate," Justice said. "We need to do more events that take advantage of our history. We need to celebrate the patriotism that we all feel."

Justice spoke to a group of about 100 Soldiers and civilians at the monthly AUSA luncheon at the Top of the Bay club. He challenged the group to honor the memory of the U.S. Army and to help tell the story of Aberdeen Proving Ground.

"Who hasn't seen the construction that is going on here'" he asked. "Aberdeen Proving Ground is going through an exciting transformation."

Justice said the Army had horse-drawn artillery when APG was founded during World War I. In the span of 60 years, he said, the Army was testing the lunar rover on APG testing ranges.

"Imagine what change we'll see in the next 60 years," he said.

After a video slideshow honoring Soldiers through the years, Justice, AUSA Chapter President Mary Jane Jernigan and the youngest Soldier in the room cut an Army birthday cake with a saber. The group sang "Happy Birthday" to celebrate the Army's anniversary.

<p align="center"><a href="http://flickriver.com/photos/rdecom/sets/72157624275791008"><img src="http://flickriver.com/badge/user/set-72157624275791008/recent/shuffle/medium-horiz/ffffff/333333/34402227@N03.jpg" border="0" alt="RDECOM - View my 'AUSA Luncheon' set on Flickriver" title="RDECOM - View my 'AUSA Luncheon' set on Flickriver"/></a></p>

Related Links:

Aberdeen Proving Ground

235th U.S. Army Birthday

Research, Development and Engineering Command