NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
To honor the United States Navy’s 244th birthday, Defense Logistics Agency Distribution employees gathered in the Distribution headquarters lobby Oct. 16.
Opening the celebration, DLA Distribution’s commanding officer Navy Rear. Adm. Kevin M. Jones thanked the Distribution workforce for the large number in attendance.
In his remarks, Jones highlighted the theme of this year’s celebration, “No Higher Honor,” based on a quote from Lt. Cmdr. Robert Copeland written in an after-action report following the Battle of Leyte Gulf against the Japanese Imperial Navy in World War II.
“In lauding the calm courage of his crew in the face of near-certain death,” Adm. Jones recounted, “Copeland wrote that there was ‘no higher honor than the privilege to lead such a gallant crew.’”
In closing, Jones thanked the organization’s active, reserve and retired Navy sailors, and invited them forward to help cut the ceremonial cake.