The Marine Corps celebrated its 248th birthday in New York City, and Pluto TV is bringing the event to streaming on November 19.
Senior National Correspondent Jim Axelrod of CBS News hosted the Marine Corps Birthday Gala aboard the USS Intrepid on November 10 with live musical performances by The U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. The annual event celebrates the legacy of the Marines while honoring the dedication of its members.
General Eric Smith of the 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps was the Military Guest of Honor. Sergeant Major Carlton Kent of the 16th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps was awarded the Honorable David Dinks Vanguard Award. General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. of the 36th Commandant of the Marine Corps and the 19th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was the gala’s 15th recipient of the Corporal Allen J. Striffler USMC Marine for Life Award.
While the Marines are celebrating its 248th birthday, this celebration also marks the 26th anniversary of the gala. The event raises money for charities supporting service members and their families each year. This year, proceeds went to Semper Fi & America’s Fund, which provides financial assistance and resources to veterans and military families who fall ill or are critically wounded to help them recover and transition back into their communities.
Funds also went to Answer The Call: New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund, which supports the families of police officers, firefighters, port authority police, and EMS personnel killed in the line of duty. The organization provides more than $6 million in resources to families every year.
This is the fourth year Paramount and Pluto TV have partnered with the gala to bring this event to streaming.
“We have an extraordinary evening that gets packaged and put up on Pluto, and I cannot say thank you enough to the folks at Paramount,” said gala organizer and retired marine Jerry Bryne in an interview with CBS News New York.
Pluto TV members can catch the complete coverage on November 19. The previous years’ events are also available on Pluto TV.