By Justin Creech
Staff writer
Thursday, June 7, 2012

Fort Belvoir will celebrate the Army’s 237th birthday with a ceremony in front of the Garrison Headquarters on June 14.

After the posting of the colors, Stephen Brooks, deputy to the garrison commander will read the President’s Proclamation followed by remarks from Garrison Commander Col. John J. Strycula and Lt. Gen. Patrick J. O’Reilly, Missile Defense Agency Director, the event’s keynote speaker.

A timeline of two hundred years of Army uniforms will be presented by Gus Person, Fort Belvoir historian.

This year’s ceremony is special for two additional reasons according to organizers. First, Fort Belvoir celebrates its centennial; and second, Echo Company, 169th Engineer Battalion, will be casing its unit colors as the company relocates to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

“Understanding that 237 years, there’s not a whole lot of organizations that have lasted that long,” said Lt. Col. Dwayne Bowyer, Headquarters Battalion commander. “It’s remembering those who came before us, who will come after us and the importance of the whole profession of arms. It’s getting our story out and showing how proud we are of our 237 year history.”

Once the official ceremony is complete, a group photo will be taken on the steps of the Garrison Headquarters and the of the Army birthday cake will be cut and served.

Bowyer said seeing the celebration come together after all the hard work that goes into organizing the event is special. He also said he gets excited hearing people vocalize their pride in the Army.

“It makes you stand a little bit taller and stick your chest out a little bit more,” Bowyer said.

Person said he enjoys presenting the uniform history of the Army because he feels people need to keep in mind the heritage of the Army and the great things the Army has done in the defense of our nation.

As part of the presentation, Pearson said one of the presenters will be a Soldier assigned to the GO8 Battalion, at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, who will be wearing the multi-camouflaged Operation Enduring Freedom uniform, as well as equipment presently being utilized in Afghanistan.

“The Army is a unique body,” said Person. “This year’s motto for the Army is ‘Army Strong.’ People need to keep in mind what the Army has accomplished and what that mission is.”

Bowyer said he enjoys the uniform presentation because it demonstrates the history of the Army, the different eras of what past Soldiers have done, and what the Army has done to allow our country to still enjoy the freedoms and liberties it does.

He also enjoys participating in the spirit video that made after the cake cutting.

“A spirit video will be made for the Army-Navy game,” said Bowyer. “We’ll do the ‘Go Army beat Navy’ chant and the video gets sent to West Point for their spirit week.”