Marine vets gather to celebrate Corps birthday

By Michael Harris
| 1:25 p.m. November 11, 2024

The uniform of the day for the Marine veterans — red polo shirts with the Marine Corps emblem. From left, David Matthews, Doug Rigg, Art Dehardt, Bob Fields, Debbie Fields, Joe Felice and David Doak.

Sarasota
Neighbors

U.S. Marine Corps veterans from Sarasota and Manatee counties gathered for the 22nd consecutive year Sunday for their annual luncheon at Marina Jack to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the Marines.

They celebrated the Marines’ 249th anniversary.

U.S Marine Corps veterans David Beliles, 94, and Brian Loebker, 39.

This was the first year there were no World War II-era Marines in attendance. There were only two Korean War-era attendees. About 110 Marine veterans attended the event.

One of the traditions at each Marine birthday celebration is the cutting of the cake. The oldest attendee cuts the cake and gives the first piece to the youngest attendee.

For the second consecutive year, David Beliles, the oldest attendee at age 94 and chairman-emeritus of the Observer, did the honors. He gave the first piece to Brian Loebker, 39, an infantry Marine veteran and lance corporal who served from 2002-2005 at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina.

Beliles was a sergeant during the Korean War; he lives at Plymouth Harbor. Loebker resides in Sarasota.