Members of the South Carolina Department of ROA celebrated the Navy’s 249th birthday with veterans, staff and their families at Piedmont Acute-Care in Piedmont, South Carolina.

We celebrated with some of the Navy's time-honored traditions.  After the pledge of allegiance, retired Master Sgt. Skip Watkins played the Navy song on the television, complete with lyrics.

The department president brought a replica of a non-commissioned officer sword to ceremoniously cut the cake. The only Navy veteran who came to the ceremony today had his son visiting so he was both the oldest and the youngest. He was excited to take part in the ceremony and get the first piece of cake.

"We chose to visit this facility because one of our members participates in the Veterans Last Patrol adopt a facility program," said retired USAR Col. Camerone Trent, South Carolina Department legislative chairman. "We wanted to celebrate a military event or anniversary that occurs in October and the Navy’s birthday was the most notable choice."

Department members who participated were Robert Griffin, Camerone Trent, Mike Hutchinson, Kathryn Danner, and Skip Watkins.