Commission praises 250th Navy/Marine Corps birthday event; vice chair filled in as keynote

Commissioners recapped the commission’s event celebrating the 250th birthday of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, describing it as successful despite a last-minute change of plans.

Commissioner Juan Preciado said the commanding officer from Fort Worth could not attend because of a government shutdown, and that Vice Chair Stephen Cole stepped in as the keynote speaker. Preciado said council members, the city manager and Congresswoman Julie Johnson attended, and the commission swore in four new recruits at the event.

Preciado thanked staff members Shvadeem and Christina for arranging a commemorative cake and said local media attended. One commissioner asked whether uniformed Marines were invited; Preciado said recruiters from the Navy volunteered recruits for the oath of enlistment and that the shutdown likely limited uniformed military participation. He noted that uniformed Marine veterans may have attended but were not in uniform.

The commission offered thanks to event volunteers and organizers; no formal action was taken.