STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (WJBK) - Hundreds of Marines wore their dress blues and brought dates in formal gowns to the 236th annual Marine Corps Ball Saturday in Sterling Heights. Fox 2 was given the rare opportunity to bring cameras inside for the time honored tradition filled with history, symbolism and pride.
Click on the video player to watch Robin Schwartz's report.
About 700 members of Marine Wing Support Group 47 and Marine Wing Support Squadron 471 Engineer Company out of Selfridge Air National Guard base gathered with loved ones to mark the occasion.
"It is the big formal affair in the Marine Corps," explained Sgt. Major Tim Lamar. "Even when we're overseas in the combat zone we take time and do a cake-cutting ceremony."
The ceremony, a symbolic passing down of the Marine Corps traditions from the oldest Marine to the youngest will take place countless times across the country and the world as we approach Nov. 10, the day the military organization was born back in 1775.
The ball comes at a time when all US troops are scheduled to be out of Iraq by Jan. 1, 2012. The US also plans to withdraw 33,000 troops from Afghanistan by 2012. Some won't make it home. But, the brave men and women who make up the Marines say they're willing to put their lives on the line to defend our freedom.
"The nation expects us to be the most ready when the nation is the least ready," said Maj. General Rex McMillan. "That's what we pride ourselves on. That and getting the job done when the nation calls and that's what we're going to do."
TUNE IN TO FOX 2 ON VETERAN'S DAY, FRIDAY, NOV. 11 FOR OUR HALF-HOUR SPECIAL "TRIBUTE TO OUR TROOPS." IT AIRS AT 10:30AM AND AGAIN AT 6PM.
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