WINGS OVER THE ROCKIES AIR & SPACE MUSEUM 

Denver 

News: With the United States Marine Corps celebrating its 250^th anniversary this year, the folks at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum agreed that it was only appropriate to have its annual fundraising gala be a celebration of this milestone occasion. 

The 250^th Birthday Ball was held at the Wings museum on the former Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, and featured an address by U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. George B. Rowell, director of strategic planning and policy for the U.S. Pacific Command (J5), and the opportunity to view the dedication of the museum’s first Marine Corps aircraft, the AV-8B Harrier II+. 

The evening also included the time-honored tradition of cutting the ceremonial cake. 

Rowell, who graduated with honors from the United States Naval Academy in 1992, assumed his current position in June after serving as the deputy commander of the United States Forces Japan. He has accumulated over 3,500 flight hours, 3,000 of which were in the F/A-18 Hornet, an all-weather supersonic, twin-engined, carrier-capable multirole combat aircraft whose top speed is 1,190 mph. 

Established as the Continental Marines on Nov. 10, 1775, by the Second Continental Congress, the corps was disestablished in 1783 when the Revolutionary War ended. It was re-established as the United States Marine Corps in July 1798 by then-President John Adams. 

The anniversary of its founding was a low-key observance every July 11 until 1921 when it was suggested to Commandant John A. Lejeune that going forward, the corps’ birthday should be celebrated every Nov. 10, the original date of its founding. 

Alpine Bank was the Birthday Ball’s Title Sponsor. Other sponsors were United Airlines, Colorado Air & Space Port, DEN, Braconier, Footers Catering, Centennial Airport, Creative Bakery Solutions, Guardian Jet and CSBR. 

About the organization: The mission of Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum is to educate, excite and inspire innovation for the next generation of aviation and space explorers. The museum has two campuses: One on the former Lowry Air Force Base in Denver and the new Exploration of Flight at Centennial Airport. 

Website: wingsmuseum.org 

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