FORT IRWIN, Calif.-Private Jose Abeu, a native of Naples, Fla., hasn’t been at the National Training Center and Fort Irwin long, but he played a significant role in the installation’s celebration of the Army’s 236th birthday on Tuesday.
As the youngest Soldier on the installation, Abeu, 18, joined the post’s oldest Soldier Chief Warrant Officer Michael J. Pratt, along with the oldest Department of the Army civilian, Ted Goerez, and youngest DA civilian, Rebecca Hollars, in helping NTC/Fort Irwin commanding general Brig. Gen. Terry Ferrell and NTC/Fort Irwin command sergeant major Command Sgt. Maj.Nathan Buckner in cutting the Army birthday cake.
“I didn’t know the Army celebrated anything like this,” Abeu admitted after the ceremony. “I’m thrilled I got to help out do something like this.”
Abeu is part of the less than 1 percent of the American population supporting the nation through service in the Army, Ferrell said.
“Today is a significant day. As we celebrate the Army’s birthday, we celebrate our birthday,” he said. “Our Army has been the strength of the nation, hands down. Throughout the years, throughout the wars, throughout the conflicts, our Army has always risen to the challenge.”
For 236 years the Army has remained strong as it’s always been the strength of the nation, he said, adding that has remained true even as the percentage of the nation’s populace serving has declined over the years.
“When you look at that and the capabilities that we possess and the abilities that we have to protect ourselves around the world, maintain constant vigil around the world and still be engaged in multiple conflicts simultaneously, it’s because of the men and women who wear the uniform, the men and women who make up the civilian workforce and the family members who make all of it come together on any given day,” he said.
As the birthday cake was brought forward for the time-honored tradition of the cake cutting, Ferrell made a special request of those gathered to celebrate the occasion.
“Keep in the back of your mind how important you are, be it a civilian, family member or a Soldier because this tradition will carry on. There is no doubt it we will continue to be strong,” Ferrell said. “We will continue to be the strength of the nation that moves forward, and for that I will always, always be thankful to be part of it and to be associated with people like you that make our nation truly strong.”
Social Sharing