Saluting the Marines.

Marine Ball Celebrates 232nd Anniversary

The 232nd anniversary of the founding of the United States Marine Corps was celebrated with a sensational ball at the Duxton Hotel on Saturday 17 Nov. In keeping with historical protocol, the event included the presentation of Marines' flags and the cutting of a birthday cake with a ceremonial sword.

Guests at the event included Defence Attaches from several embassies and officers and staff from the New Zealand defence forces. Guest of honour, U.S. Ambassador McCormick said the occasion evoked the friendship between U.S. Marines and New Zealanders began in WWII when thousands of Marines were here in camps and hospitals.  He also congratulated the Marine Guard of the U.S. embassy on their efforts in preparation for the event.

Major General Michael Lehnert (USMC).

Remarks of Major General Michael Lehnert (USMC)

Ambassador McCormick, Marines, and friends of Marines:  It is a special privilege to be here tonight and if you’ll indulge me for a moment I’ll tell you why.

This is very likely the last birthday ball I will ever attend while on active duty.  After nearly 35 years of service I will retire next summer having served almost my entire adult life as a Marine.

I am the son of an enlisted Marine who served in the Pacific theatre in World War II.  As a young boy my dad would say to me, “There are two places in the world that are exceptional.  All others take second place.  Those two places are the Northwest Coast of the United States, and New Zealand.”  Ironically he only lived for a short time in both places, but both had a special place in his heart.

During the war, my dad was part of the 2nd Marine Division.  He was sent to New Zealand after the battle for Tarawa to recover.  He was a farm boy from the state of Michigan.  When a New Zealand family offered to take him home for a weekend to stay with them on their sheep station, he readily accepted.  Apparently during his recovery, he made many trips to the station.  He said that the owners treated him like their son.  Their sons were serving in North Africa and Italy, and perhaps he reminded them of their own children.

For a quarter century, dad would receive an annual card or letter from New Zealand.  This wonderful family took him into theirs.  In the 1970’s the cards stopped coming.  Sadly, dad is gone now and I never learned the name of that family.  Perhaps that is for the best for now that family will forever represent all of New Zealand to me.

So I came back here tonight to say thank you.  Thank you to New Zealand who sent their sons off to war and who took America’s sons in during those dark days of World War II.  Thank you to that unknown family who took Dad in and in turn made New Zealand forever a magical place of peace and serenity for him...