‘Forged by the Sea’ ... Navy’s 243rd birthday celebrated

Rear Adm. Gregory Harris, chief of Naval Air Training and the guest speaker at the NAS Corpus Christi Navy Ball held Oct. 11.

“Since our conception, our experiences at sea have been transformative for our Sailors, for our service, and for our nation as a whole,” he added.

Whether based ashore, abroad or at sea, Sailors held celebrations to mark the Navy’s 243rd birthday with other service members, civilians, community leaders and family members reflecting on the theme “Forged by the Sea.”

Since its earliest days, the U.S. Navy has deployed forward to deter our adversaries and fight if deterrence fails, in order to safeguard our interests and preserve our way of life.

“Two hundred and forty-three years ago, our Navy was founded, founded to protect America from attack, to secure our prosperity and our interests around the world, and we’ve been doing that every day since,” said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson in a Navy birthday video posted on social media.

Since then, America has been kept safe through exceptional talent, dedication to duty and strength of character. The Navy has grown to become the largest, most advanced and most lethal fighting force the world has ever known. Our Navy, today, consists of nearly 300 vessels and more than 400,000 Sailors, Harris said.

“We acknowledge the history, customs and traditions passed down over 243 years to those of us serving today, said YN1 Bridget Crawford, the event’s master of ceremonies. “We recognize that each day – even as we sit here tonight – Sailors on watch, on the ground and underway, are serving their country in much the same manner as our forefathers did 243 years ago.”

In keeping with a time-honored tradition, the birthday celebration held at the Solomon P. Ortiz Center ended with raising glasses in salute, expressing toasts of good wishes, followed by a cake-cutting ceremony. The first slice of cake was cut by the oldest and youngest Sailors present -- Retired Senior Chief Jim Burke, 70, and ACAN Jeansoe Pradel, 18, of Air Operations.

Burke then presented Pradel with a piece of cake, symbolizing the passing of the wisdom of age, knowledge and experience to younger generations, in order to carry on a strong Navy during our journey into the future.

The second piece of cake was passed from Pradel to Burke, symbolizing the acceptance of this challenge to journey on, with strength and vitality of youth.

In an effort to curb British sea control, the Continental Congress established the Continental Navy, which later became the United States Navy, Oct. 13, 12775. When the Continental Navy was initially formed, it consisted of only two armed vessels that were tasked with disrupting munition ships supplying the British Army in America. In 1972, CNO Adm. Elmo Zumwalt designated Oct. 13 as the Navy’s official birthday, in order to “enhance a greater appreciation of our Navy heritage, and provide a positive influence toward pride and professionalism in the naval service.” Over the past two and a half centuries, the Navy has grown to become the largest, most advanced and most lethal fighting force the world has ever known. “Forged by the Sea.”