When the birthday cake gets sliced with a sword, you know it's the Navy's special day.
The U.S. Navy turns 231 on Friday, and the midshipmen in Penn's Naval ROTC gathered yesterday afternoon in Houston Hall to commemorate the occasion.
The flags were presented, anthems were played and a sword was used to do the honors.
Then, the oldest and youngest people present associated with the battalion were served the first and second piece, respectively.
The birthday celebration was combined with a ceremony to honor Battalion Cmdr. Katie Burkhart. Burkhart, a College senior, recently received the Medal of Honor congressional scholarship, a $3,000 annual award given to ROTC students for outstanding leadership, discipline and character.
Col. Glenn Wagner said the NROTC probably would not have hosted an event if Burkhart had not received the award.
Usually, the midshipmen commemorate the Navy's birthday with an early morning run on Oct. 13th.
A four-year member of the NROTC, Burkhart was excited about earning recognition for her hard work through the NROTC.
The NROTC has "been great," Burkhart said. "It's my favorite part of school."
By signing up with the NROTC, she has agreed to an eight-year Navy commitment after graduation. She will receive her commission on graduation weekend in the spring.
Brian Thacker, a 1973 recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor - the highest award for bravery that a soldier can receive - was on hand to present the award to Burkhart. He also spoke to the midshipmen about his experiences in the Army and about the role reserve officers hold in today's society.
The speech was "pretty inspiring," Engineering junior Michael Glynn said. "It was a refreshing message in this day and age."
Engineering junior Michelle Czarniak agreed.
"It was very, very moving," said Czarniak, who grew up in several states because her father was in the Air Force. "Especially during a time like now. It's nice to see that kind of mentality."
And the cake?
"It's kind of a guilty pleasure," Brian Muka, an NROTC officer who recently graduated from Drexel University, said. "It's really, really good."
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