240th annual Marine Birthday Ball on tap for Saturday

Local Marines and former Marines will be able to come together and celebrate at the 240th annual Marine Birthday Ball on Saturday.

The event will be held at The Vine in Sidney.

The United States Marine Corps birthday is celebrated every year on Nov. 10. This year's Commandant's Marine Corps Birthday Ball will be held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md. At the celebration, there is a traditional ball and a cake-cutting ceremony.

Sidney's Marine Birthday Ball originated three years ago when former Marine Nick Eddy attended a Marine ball in Kimball.

"The first year I lived in Sidney I went to the Marine Corps Ball in Kimball, and honestly I just thought that for the 45-minute drive I could do something a whole lot better," Eddy said. "So from there I just took it upon myself to reach out to Marines in town and surrounding areas to put something together here."

Anyone with connections to the Marines are more than welcome to attend the event.

Eddy said that invitations are sent in October, but reservations to the event are unnecessary.

"We've had really good feedback," he said. "Other balls you have to RSVP with tickets, and I don't sell tickets. We've just had really good luck with people showing up. More and more people come out each year."

This year's formal event will include dinner and drinks, raffle and auction items, a cake-cutting ceremony, a slide show, speeches and a deejay.

The celebration will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. at The Vine located at 284 Illinois Street.