News Photo by Julie Riddle Marine Don Cline shares a piece of cake with Navy Corpsman Ryan Wright at a Marine cake ceremony in an Alpena tavern Sunday.

ALPENA– Sweet frosting clung to the blade of a sword in a crowded bar on Alpena’s south side.

The Marines were having a birthday, and, once again, it was time to pass down a piece of cake and two-and-a-half centuries of tradition.

For 244 years, United States Marines have been celebrating the November 10th anniversary of their 1775 founding with the tradition of a cake-cutting ceremony. Packed into Bogart’s Tavern, where co-owner John Benson has been hosting the ceremony for years, Alpena-area Marines watched as Don Cline, this year the oldest local Marine, cut a large cake with a ceremonial sword.

Following tradition, the first piece of cake went to corpsman Ryan Wright, at 36, the youngest local serviceman associated with the Marines.

It’s not just about the cake, Frank Rosinski, past Marine Corps League commandant, said. The ceremony is symbolic of the passing down of Marine values, as much a part of the organization as their legendary toughness.

Every veteran has pledged to give his life for his country, Rosinski said on the day before the nation celebrates Veterans Day. Marines’ historic dedication to the values of honor, courage, and commitment are inseparable from that pledge, and inseparable from what it is to be a Marine.

“It’s very apropos that we’re called the Marine Corp. Because it’s at our core,” Rosinski said. “Some people call us fanatics. And, yes, we are. We’re Marines.”

As a Navy corpsman, Wright is among those revered by Marines. The Marines don’t have a medical component, Rosinski explained. Navy corpsmen are enlisted medical specialists who serve as medics for a U.S. Marine Corps unit, rushing in to rescue wounded Marines and serving as high-priority targets for enemy soldiers.

“Everyone tries to shoot them first,” Rosinski said, “because they’re the ones that save our lives.”

When soldiers go down, Wright said, they call for three things: their God, their mother, and their doctor.

“And I am their doc,” he said, shoulders military-straight.”That’s a brotherhood.”

Cline, who also cut last year’s cake, went to boot camp at 21, followed by a posting in Japan during World War II.

While he may be past his days of fighting overseas, there’s no such thing as an ex-Marine, he said, or a Marine without a family.

“We really stick together. That’s the way it is, man,” the soldier said.

A man wearing the Marine insignia on his jacket approached the tavern door where Cline stood.

“Semper Fi,” Cline greeted the man, receiving a thanks and a warm head nod in return. The Marine’s motto, “always faithful,” describes not only their military dedication but also the enduring bond, deeper than a family, that Marines have with each other, closeness forged in the intense training and precarious situations that are part of their calling.

“You can’t explain the goodness and the feeling you have with another Marine,” Cline said. “You don’t have to know his name or know him at all. ‘Semper Fi’ does it. It makes you comrades.”

The tavern, full of conversation and the smell of celebratory sausage and sauerkraut, quieted as the ceremonial sword was drawn, a proclamation read, the cake cut, and a tradition of deeply-held values passed down, oldest to youngest, keeping tradition alive.

As the ceremony finished, chairs scraped and the military men and women stood, a melody carried by quavery, ardent voices filling the room.

“From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli, we fight our country’s battles in the air, on land, and sea,” they sang, hats in hands, the room warm with pride. “First to fight for right and freedom and to keep our honor clean; we are proud to claim the title of United States Marine.”

The last notes of the birthday song faded, punctuated by a lusty “Oorah!”

Julie Riddle can be reached at 989-358-5693, jriddle@thealpenanews.com or on Twitter @jriddleX.