COEUR d'ALENE — Peering into the audience at the Marine Corps Birthday Ball, Master Gunnery Sgt. Jay Lillefloren said he knew everyone looking back at him made a conscious decision to there.

"It's a big effort that's put forward into this ball," he said. "I can tell you just by looking around the room, it's appreciated by everybody."

It took desire for everyone to be present Friday night, Lillefloren said, and he urged people to continue to be present in their daily lives and in their community.

"In a world where everything is online, everything is posted, everything is liked, everything is shared, nobody's there anymore," he said. "I just would like everyone here to congratulate yourselves for putting in the effort to be there. You have to accept this opportunity."

Lillefloren, who served nearly 30 years in the Marines, was the guest speaker at the ball, where roughly 220 guests celebrated the 248th birthday of the Marine Corps. This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the Marine Corps League, an organization through which active, reserve, retired and veteran Marines continue their faithful tradition of looking out for one another.

The ball, held at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn, was hosted by the Marine Corps League Pappy Boyington Detachment 966.

"The Marine Corps is pretty much the only branch that worldwide celebrates its birthday every year," said Pappy Boyington Detachment Commandant Mike Quinn, who also served as the evening's emcee. "From the time you join the Marine Corps, it is beat into us we are brothers and sisters. And we're proud of who we are and our traditions."

Many of those traditions were on full display at the ball, including the cutting of the cakes with swords and the oldest Marine serving the first slice to the youngest Marine. This year's Marine longest in the tooth was 88-year-old Roy Kisner, who delighted in cracking up the youngest Marine, Richard Walton, 39, as the cake ceremony was conducted.

"It's heartwarming, is what it is," Walton said. "We're very proud to be Marines, so to be the youngest and to see the oldest was just phenomenal."

Stories and meals were shared, new and old friends mingled and a surprise visit from Santa Claus made for an enjoyable evening.

Organizers are already planning for a big milestone bash in two years, when the Marines will celebrate 250 years.

    Terry Blessing, a commandant with the Department of Idaho Marine Corps League, holds a plate of lemon slices symbolizing the bitter fate of prisoners of war and those missing in action during the POW/MIA Table ceremony Friday at the Marine Corps Birthday Ball.
  

    Cakes are ready to be cut as emcee Mike Quinn speaks to nearly 220 guests Friday at the Marine Corps Birthday Ball.