Local Rotarians honored local veterans during a recent Parsons Rotary Club meeting. President Roger Buck said that each year around Veterans Day, the club recognizes area veterans. This year, the meeting incorporated a recognition of the Marine Corps Birthday, which is celebrated annually on Nov. 10.
The Navy typically recognizes its founding on Oct. 13 each year.
This year, both the U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Navy are celebrating 250 years of service and dedication to the United States of America. Both agencies are older than the country itself.
During the meeting, veterans stood to be recognized and shared a bit about themselves and where they served.
“It is my honor today to recognize you veterans, no matter what branch you might have been in,” Master of Ceremonies Steven Ray said.
Ray then introduced a long-standing birthday tradition: cutting the cake.
Like other birthdays, cutting a cake is integral to the celebration. However, unlike most birthday cakes, this cake is cut with a mameluke sword. These are ceremonial swords used by Marine Corps officers. Ray said the sword is similar to those used by warriors in the Ottoman Empire.
“The first piece of cake is to be given to the oldest Marine. Upon receiving the first piece of cake, the oldest marine will, in turn, pass it on to the youngest marine present, signifying the passage of experience and knowledge of the older veterans,” Ray said.
Ray was the oldest marine present and asked Steve Fincher, to stand in his place during the ceremony.
Fincher served in both the Marine Corps and the Navy across a 20-year military career. He will also lead the Veterans Day Parade as grand marshal this year.
The youngest Marine present was Ray’s nephew, Mark Hall, who served from 1991 to 1998, and is now a member of the Marine Corps League Detachment in Independence.
“On behalf of the senior Marine present, I present this to you, sir,” Fincher said as he passed the slice of cake to Hall, and with it, honoring their Marine birthday tradition, a few days early.
Cake was served to attendees, and then a video program was played from the Military Channel, which recognized the late David Larsen. Larsen was a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Navy. Larsen also served his community as a city commissioner.
He is a well-decorated soldier, having earned a Navy Cross Medal, a Bronze Star Medal, two Purple Heart Medals, two Navy Ach Medals, a Vietnam Camp Medal, a National Defense Medal, an Armed Forces Experience Medal, a Vietnam Service Medal with 6 stars, a Combat Action Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation Medal, a Gallantry Cross Vietnam Medal and a Kansas Medal for Serving from the State of Kansas. His military accolades have been featured in films, and military history programming. A street in town was named in his honor, and Nov. 12, 2001 was dubbed David R. Larsen Appreciation Day.
To learn more about the local Rotary Club, visit the Rotary Club of Parsons Facebook Page, or email parsonsrotaryclub@ gmail.com. The Rotary Club meets each Thursday at noon, at Wall Family Center, 2605 Main St., Parsons.
