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Army Birthday, Flag Day celebrated at Orange County event

USACE Los Angeles District
Published June 15, 2022
Updated: June 15, 2022
Col. Julie Balten, commander, Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, was the keynote speaker at the Orange County District 2 Flag Day event, June 14, in Santa Ana, California.

Marking every year since the Army’s creation, 247 flags are flown in honor of all military personnel, firefighters, police officers, medical personnel, and other first responders. Col. Julie Balten, commander, Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, was the keynote speaker at the Orange County District 2 Flag Day event, June 14, in Santa Ana, California.

Col. Julie Balten, commander, Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, was the keynote speaker at the Orange County District 2 Flag Day event, June 14, in Santa Ana, California.

Marking every year since the Army’s creation, 247 flags are flown in honor of all military personnel, firefighters, police officers, medical personnel, and other first responders. Col. Julie Balten, commander, Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, was the keynote speaker at the Orange County District 2 Flag Day event, June 14, in Santa Ana, California.

Col. Julie Balten, commander, Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, was the keynote speaker at the Orange County District 2 Flag Day event, June 14, in Santa Ana, California.

Keynote speaker Col. Julie A. Balten, commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, addresses an audience at the Orange County District 2 Flag Day event, June 14, 2022, in Santa Ana, California. Balten spoke about Army and Army Corps history and the all-volunteer force of today. The Army Corps of Engineers’ 247th birthday follows two days later on June 16.

Col. Julie Balten, commander, Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, was the keynote speaker at the Orange County District 2 Flag Day event, June 14, in Santa Ana, California.

Celebrating Flag Day and the Army’s birthday, Col. Julie A. Balten, commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, joins Orange County Second District Supervisor Katrina Foley and a 72-year-old Army veteran wield a cavalry saber to cut the Army birthday cake at the Orange County District 2 Flag Day event, June 14, in Santa Ana, California.

SANTA ANA, California—With 247 American flags fluttering in the breeze on a perfect Southern California day, Orange County District 2 celebrated Flag Day and the Army’s 247th birthday, June 14, in Santa Ana, California. The event was held in honor of all military personnel, firefighters, police officers, medical personnel, and other first responders.

The patriotic field of flags sponsored by the Exchange Club was planted by multiple troops of Boy and Girl Scouts, while JROTC cadets provided a color guard and Marine Corps Air Station Tustin Young Marines demonstrated the 13 symbolic folds of the flag. Veterans attending the event wore hats and clothing displaying their branches of service and combat units. Supervisor Katrina Foley, Orange County District 2, led the event and introduced speakers.

Keynote speaker Col. Julie A. Balten, commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, addressed a socially distanced audience of citizens seated amidst the sea of red, white and blue at the Old Orange County Court House, the oldest court building in California and now a historic landmark.  Balten spoke about Army life and being a Soldier.  

“Our all-volunteer military is the best trained and most professional force in the world. Today’s Army is a cross-sectioning of all Americans, with warriors from the 50 states and protectorates,” Balten said.

Balten noted the Army Corps of Engineers’ 247th birthday follows two days later on June 16 and provided some Corps history.

The traditional cutting of the Army birthday cake using a saber was performed by Foley, Balten and a 72-year-old Army veteran from the audience. Participants were treated to a hot dog barbeque following the ceremony.