Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24) celebrated the 117th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. Navy Medical Corp with a ceremony and cake cutting, June 17.
During the ceremony, Sailors and Marines from both Arlington and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) came together on the mess decks to pay tribute to those who came before them.
"It's important that we remember those who actually paved the way," said Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Kinkela Kuedituka, leading chief petty officer (LCPO) of the medical department. "We always have to remember where we came from and who came before us. It's not just a celebration but a remembrance of those who are not here today to celebrate."
Arlington and 26th MEU hospital corpsmen recited the history of the Hospital Corps in addition to reading a happy birthday message from Force Master Chief Sherman Boss, the FORCM for the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine. Arlington Commanding Officer Capt. Sean Bailey passed the first slice of the commemorative cake to the most-senior corpsman, as well as the youngest Arlington and the 26th MEU's medical teams.
The ceremony concluded with the ringing of bells in tribute to the corpsman who died in the line of duty throughout the last 117 years.
"The entire ceremony was done very tastefully and really brought us all back to the basic tradition of remembering the fallen," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Brandon Purtee, from 26th MEU. "It was motivating to see the amount of support we all had from both the ship's crew, and the Marines from 26th MEU."
After the bells were rung, each corpsman in attendance recited the Hospital Corpsman's Pledge, reaffirming their commitment and dedication to the health and well-being of every Sailor and Marine.
"Throughout the ceremony, there were echoes in the mess decks and a fire in my heart as I watched these men and women that I serve with honor those that came before us," said Kuedituka. "These are the people that will make history tomorrow, and one day I will be able to sit back and say I was there, and I served with that Sailor or that Marine that made history. That is what this ceremony is all about - honoring and remembering the men and women that made history."
For more news from USS Arlington (LPD 24), visit www.navy.mil/.
