Guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) celebrated the Navy's 241st birthday with a ceremony and cake-cutting on the ship's mess decks, Oct. 12.

More than 70 Sailors gathered to observe the time-honored tradition of the cake-cutting ceremony, including Chief Petty Officer Katrina Connor, the oldest member of the Monterey crew who cut the first slice of cake with Seaman Tyler Diniro, the youngest member of the command.

"This was a very humbling moment for me," Connor said. "I remember watching my first master chief cut the cake when she was the oldest person on the ship. It puts things in perspective now, that I fill the role my first leading chief petty officer had over 20 years ago. It made me really realize the full effect of the Navy's traditions."

The Navy birthday tradition was not lost on Monterey's younger members.

"This is my very first job," said Seaman Alec Falcone. "I am honored to be a part of an organization that has made a difference throughout history."

Chief Petty Officer John Leach, an observer of the ceremony, commented on the importance of tradition to the Navy.

"The Navy was built on tradition," Leach said. "It allows for pride in your job."

In addition to the ceremonial cake-cutting, the bridge team announced a Navy trivia question using the ship's general announcing system (1MC) every hour during normal working hours, Oct. 13.

"I was very impressed with the enthusiastic and timely responses from the crew," said Lt. j.g. Thomas King, a bridge watchstander. "It is great to know that there are those who really know the history of this organization."

Monterey, deployed with the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG), is supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

Ike CSG is comprised of the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 staff, the squadrons and staff of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), guided-missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and Monterey, and DESRON 26 guided-missile destroyers USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), USS Mason (DDG 87), and USS Nitze (DDG 94).

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For more news from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), visit www.navy.mil/.