Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Patuxent River celebrated the U.S. Navy's 247th birthday with a cake-cutting ceremony at the Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River Quarterdeck on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022.

The ceremony included remarks by commanding officer Capt. Jeremy Hawker and Chief Hospital Corpsman (sel) Curvy Buford, who comes from several generations of Navy sailors.

"The Navy's 247th Birthday is not only a celebration of our Navy's heritage, but also an opportunity to recognize everyone who continues to serve today so that we can maintain global superiority at sea and defend democracy around the world," said Hawker. "Thank you to each of you who have made the decision to serve and uphold our 247-year naval traditions of honor, courage and commitment."

The event also included a reading of the birthday message by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday.

"Happy Birthday, Shipmates," he wrote. "Today, we join together to commemorate and celebrate our Navy’s 247th birthday. Together, we continue to stand the watch 24 hours a day, seven days a week – as we have for the past 247 years."

Capt. Mitchell Checchi, the command's oldest sailor, and Hospital Corpsman Rebekah Edwards, the youngest, cut the birthday cake, with Checchi passing a slice to Edwards to symbolize the passing of wisdom. The cake-cutting ceremony is a time-honored Navy tradition.

The command's three branch clinics - Naval Branch Health Clinic Dahlgren, Indian Head and Joint Base Andrews - participated virtually.