New Orleans -- Celebrating 100 years of service to the United States, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve will kick off a year-long, nationwide celebration of its centennial anniversary starting Aug. 24-27 in New Orleans and August 29-30 in New York City during events to mark this historic milestone. Events will continue over the next 12 months in cities like Boston, Chicago, Nashville, Fort Worth, San Francisco, San Diego and many others.
Lt. Gen. Rex C. McMillian, commander of Marine Forces Reserve, will use this milestone on behalf of the Commandant of the Marine Corps to launch a campaign of awareness across the nation. The campaign will kick off in New Orleans Aug. 24-26 with a spectacular multimedia concert and a formal commemoration ceremony. Celebrations will continue in New York City on Aug. 29-30 with events in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Events include: a formation of all Marines (past, present, and future) in Times Square, Marine Corps Band New Orleans concert at Bloomberg Towers, and a formal 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn honoring two Reserve Marines from New York’s Finest and New York’s Bravest who perished in the World Trade Center during the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.
“For 100 years, Reserve Marines have answered our nation’s call,” McMillian said. “In every major conflict since World War I, our Reserve Marines left the comforts of home, their families and their civilian employment on a moment’s notice and ran toward the sound of gunfire and the smell of cordite in defense of our nation. This commemoration allows us to honor all Reserve Marines and thank the American public for continued support of their Marine Corps Reserve.”
The Marine Corps Reserve was established by President Woodrow Wilson on August 29, 1916. During World War II, by September 1945, Reserve Marines made up 70 percent of the total wartime Marine Corps personnel. Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 86,300 mobilizations from the Marine Corps Reserve have occurred in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Reserve Marines have been fully engaged across the globe over the past 15 years of combat operations, serving as the essential force enabler for our Active Component.
For more information about New Orleans and New York events, see attached advisory.
NEW ORLEANS ADVISORY:
-
Marine Corps Band Multimedia Centennial Concert
To commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Marine Corps Reserve, Marine Corps Band New Orleans will perform a Broadway-style multimedia concert at Delgado Community College. The performance will trace the Marine Corps Reserve’s history from its inception during World War I to present day operations as told through period music, actors in period costumes, and video footage of significant Marine Corps history.
-
WHEN: Wednesday, August 24 at 7:00 p.m. (Media arrival 6:30 p.m.)
-
WHERE: Delgado Community College, 615 City Park Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70119
-
WHO: Marine Corps Band New Orleans
-
WHAT: Spectacular multimedia performance to honor the centennial anniversary of the Marine Corps Reserve.
-
INVITED VIPS: Lt. Gen. Rex C. McMillian
-
PHOTO/VIDEO OPPORTUNITIES: Marine Corps Band New Orleans performance; reenactment by actors portraying Marine Reservists who served in every conflict since World War I; reactions from audience.
-
-
Marine Corps Reserve Centennial Commemoration Ceremony
The Marine Corps, community leaders and Marine Corps supporters will gather at the National World War II Museum’s Freedom Pavilion to commemorate this important milestone in history. The Marine Corps Band New Orleans will perform, and noted VIP speakers will address the gathering.
-
WHEN: Friday, August 26 at 11:00 a.m. (Media arrival 10:30 a.m.)
-
WHERE: WWII Museum, Freedom Pavilion, 945 Magazine Street New Orleans, LA 70130
-
WHO: Gen. Glenn M. Walters, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Lt. Gen. McMillian, Commander of Marine Forces Reserve, and current/former Marines along with Marine Corps Band New Orleans
-
WHAT: A formal ceremony to honor the service of all Reserve Marines
-
PHOTO/VIDEO OPPORTUNITIES: Formation of currently serving Marines, Veteran Marines, and Civil Servants
Credentialing: Contact Marine Forces Reserve Public Affairs no later than Tuesday, August 23 at 5:00 p.m. for credentialing. Please include your name, outlet, phone number and email address.
Live streaming of both events is available at the following links:
NEW YORK ADVISORY:
-
“Once a Marine Always a Marine” Formation
In celebration of the Marine Corps Reserve centennial, all Marines (past, present and future) are invited to join together in a military formation alongside their Marine brothers and sisters once again.
-
WHEN: Monday, August 29 at 9 a.m. (Media arrival 8:30 a.m.)
-
WHERE: 43/44 Plaza Times Square, New York City
-
WHO: Lt. Gen. McMillian and Sgt. Major Ronald L. Green (Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps) along with ~500 current and former Marines
-
WHAT: Military formation to honor the Marine Corps Reserve Centennial. During ceremony, some 50 recruits will be sworn in to the Marine Corps. Performances by Marine Corps Band New Orleans and the USO Show Troupe.
-
INVITED VIPS: The Honorable Bill de Blasio, New York Commissioner of Veteran Services Loree Sutton, NYPD Commissioner William Bratton, NYFD Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro, former New York City Mayor and Montford Point Marine David Dinkins.
-
PHOTO/VIDEO OPPORTUNITIES: Largest mass formation of Marines in New York City history; mass swearing in of Marine Recruits; Marines from every war since World War II represented; Marine Corps Band/USO Show Troupe performances.
-
USMC Reserve Center Brooklyn 9/11 Memorial Ceremony
In honor of two New York Marine Reservists from Brooklyn’s 6th Communication Battalion whose lives were lost working as first responders at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, Marine Corps Reserve Center Brooklyn will rename its facility in honor of Sergeant Major Michael S. Curtin (NYPD) and Gunnery Sergeant Matthew D. Garvey (FDNY) and dedicate a 9/11 memorial statue made from World Trade Center steel.
-
WHERE: 1 Floyd Bennett Field Brooklyn, NY 11234
-
WHO: 6th Communication Battalion Marines along with Lt. Gen. McMillian and Sgt. Major Ronald L. Green.
-
WHAT: Renaming of USMC Reserve Center Brooklyn, located at Floyd Bennett Field, to honor Sergeant Major Michael S. Curtin and Gunnery Sergeant Matthew D. Garvey, and dedication of 9/11 memorial statue.
-
INVITED VIPS: The Honorable Bill de Blasio, New York Commissioner of Veteran Services Loree Sutton, NYPD Commissioner William Bratton, FDNY Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro.
-
PHOTO/VIDEO OPPORTUNITIES: Unveiling of signage with new name; Reaction of family/friends/colleagues; Unveiling of 9/11 memorial statue; formation of Marines; performance by Marine Corps Band New Orleans.
-
Marine Corps Band Centennial Concert
To commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Marine Corps Reserve, Marine Corps Band New Orleans will perform a concert at Bloomberg Towers.
-
WHERE: Courtyard at Bloomberg Towers, 731 Lexington Avenue.
-
WHO: Marine Corps Band New Orleans (with special appearance by the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums).
-
WHAT: USMC band performance in honor the centennial anniversary of the Marine Corps Reserve.
-
INVITED VIPS: The Honorable Bill de Blasio, New York Commissioner of Veteran Services Loree Sutton, NYPD Commissioner William Bratton, FDNY Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro, Michael Bloomberg.
-
PHOTO/VIDEO OPPORTUNITIES: Marine Corps Band New Orleans performance; reenactment by actors portraying Marine Reservists who served in every conflict since World War I; reactions from audience.
Credentialing: Contact Marine Forces Reserve Public Affairs no later than Friday, August 26 at 5:00 p.m. for credentialing. Please include your name, outlet, phone number and email address.
Live streaming of both events is available at the following links:
-USMC-