Richmond, Va –
Defense Logistics Agency Aviation Marine Corps members and the inspector-instructor staff assigned to Hotel Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marines, U.S. Marine Corps observed their 241st birthday with a celebration steeped in history at the Lotts Conference Center on Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia, November 10.
The Marine Corps was established November 10, 1775 in Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, by a resolution of the Continental Congress.
The ceremony began with the reading of the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Lt. Gen. John Lejeune’s message from 1921 that directed a reminder of the honorable service of the Corps be published by every command, to all Marines throughout the globe on the birthday of the Corps. It is republished every year on November 10.
Charlie Lilli, DLA Aviation deputy commander served as the guest of honor and spoke about his work with the Corps both as a civilian executive and during his Navy career.
In his speech Lilli thanked the Marines for their hard work. “I do have some connections with the Marine Corps during my career,” he said. “I was proud to serve as part of the naval service that included the Corps. The Navy and Marine Corps serving together as a team combines to form the most powerful expeditionary force the world has ever seen.”
Lilli congratulated the Marines for helping the Navy to be the most powerful and deadly force in the world.
Jokingly, he spoke of his current personal connection with the Marines. “My daughter married one.”
Lilli served on the USS Essex which was designed to carry Marines. He spoke of working alongside the Marines and admiring their professionalism and their team spirit.
He thanked the DLA Aviation Marines for their self-driven, self-motivating, proud, aggressive team here at DSCR.
“Four Marines do the work of 50 and it is amazing to watch,” he said.