VALDOSTA —
The United States Marine Corps has defended the nation's liberty for 237 years and Nov. 10 marked the celebration of their birthday for decades. Today, Lowndes County veterans have picked up the baton in an effort to keep the county's recognition of the date moving forward.
In honor of the passing of the late Billy Langdale, event organizer and veteran, a group of revelers and comrades recognized last year's Marine Corps birthday without a formal celebration.
This year, Bubba Nolan and American Legion officials revived the Lowndes County's Marine Corps birthday celebration and dedicated it to Langdale.
The group held a reading and a served cake decked out with the US Marine Corps’ emblem.
The first two slices went to the two gentlemen tied for “Oldest Marine,” James “Pete” Bentley and John Eades, and the third slice went to Sgt. Kaluaokal Kaiahua who was dubbed the “Youngest Marine.”
"It's been seventy years since I enlisted," said John Eades of the 3rd Marine Air Wing and a veteran of the war efforts in the Pacific theater. Eades said he enlisted on the day of the Marine Corps's birthday, seventy years ago.
“Most of us were just little shirt-tail kids, and hadn't been more than 20 miles from home,” said Eades. “But we always wanted to wear the Marine Corps's uniform so that we could 'snow' the women.”
Eades said he bounced around from camps in North Carolina and California before being sent overseas to participate in the war effort.
"But never ever did I have an opportunity to wear that Marine Corps uniform or snow a single woman," said Eades before chuckling.
“The crowd today was lively as they shared each other's company and exchanged stories,” said Nolan. "That's what it's about. People don't always realize what our veterans have gone through.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
Veterans John Eades, 3rd Marine Air Wing, and James ‘Pete’ Bentley, 2nd Marine Division and a participant in the Okinawa Invasion, tied as “Oldest Marine,” are honored with a slice of cake from event organizer Bubba Nolan, during the U.S. Marine Corps’ 237th birthday celebration at Post 13 of the American Legion on Saturday. Quinten Plummer
Discussion
United States Marine Corps celebrates 237 years
- Local News
-
-
Coliform found in drinking water
The cause of a water quality issue is still under investigation by the City of Valdosta Utilities Department after a water sample taken from a line in the area near the intersection of St. Augustine Road and West Hill Avenue tested positive for coliform bacteria.
-
The Big One: Preparing for mid-America earthquake
It’s a bleak scenario. A massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless. The Memphis airport — the country’s biggest air terminal for packages — goes off-line. Major oil and gas pipelines across Tennessee rupture, causing shortages in the Northeast. In Missouri, another 15,000 people are hurt or dead. Cities and towns throughout the central U.S. lose power and water for months. Losses stack up to hundreds of billions of dollars.
-
Preparing South Georgia for a disaster
A pair of specialized urban rescuers shed some of their protective gear for a moment and exchange relieved smiles because, on the roads across the swamps of residential rubble, a caravan of Lowndes citizens returns to a county that, according to Lowndes officials, was able to repair its wounds in the aftermath of a Category 5 storm due to a dynamic package of disaster plans.
-
Valdosta police honor Moody security force
Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress awarded a set of challenge coins Friday to 12 members of Moody Air Force Base’s security forces. The coin ceremony served as a thank-you from the Valdosta Police Department for the base’s operational support in handling bomb threats and helping in community matters.
-
Charges filed in bomb threat made from jail
A pair of inmates received additional charges this week when they reportedly phoned a bomb threat from the Lowndes County Jail to South Georgia Medical Center Tuesday, according to the Valdosta Police Department.
-
Echols deputies seize a half-million in pot
A public indecency call late Friday afternoon led to the seizure of a marijuana grow house, 38 mature plants, and the arrest of an Echols County man, according to the Echols County Sheriff’s Office.
-
Weekend Update: Morven Peach Festival
News reporter Caitlin Barker speaks to representatives Sandy Rentz and Dawana Nunnally from the Morven Peach Committee, about the Peach Festival taking place this Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The band Trailer of Tears will play from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., followed by a parade taking place at 2 p.m.
-
Just Peachy
Peach tarts, peach ice cream, a peach parade and the Peach Queen — it’s time for the 26th Annual Morven Peach Festival.
-
Boys and Girls Club prepares for smooth transition
When longtime Boys and Girls Club of Valdosta Chief Professional Officer Robert Soper officially retires on June 1, his successor will already be in place, ready to take the reins of the organization.
-
Lowndes Middle student charged in school fire
An 11-year-old has been charged with arson after reportedly starting a fire in a Lowndes Middle School restroom on a dare earlier this week, according to the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Thursday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
