NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
To honor the United States Navy’s 242nd birthday, DLA Distribution employees gathered together to sing the Navy service song and cut a birthday cake.
Opening the celebration, DLA Distribution commander Army Brig. Gen. John S. Laskodi reminded the audience that all services, especially the Navy, are fighting in one of the most complex times in history.
“Despite an increasingly complex global security environment, the Navy continues to provide constant forward-presence in areas where our interests are being challenged,” said Laskodi.
He then asked former and current Navy servicemen and women in the audience to come forward and sing the Navy service song, Anchors Aweigh. Brad Bellis, DLA Distribution Business Operations chief, led the group in a rousing rendition of the march, after informing the general that the song had been established as a motivational anthem to use as a football march against Army in a 1906 matchup; a game that was ultimately won by the Navy.
Following the song and closing the ceremony, Laskodi invited the group’s most senior and junior sailors to cut the Navy birthday cake amongst a round of applause.