Local Marine Corps League to host 250th anniversary ball

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - Different branches of the military are 
celebrating their 250th anniversary this year.

For veterans and active duty members, service organizations like the 
Marine Corps League are a place to connect with others who have served.

“We try to do as much as we can for the community. It’s an extension to 
our time that we served in the Marine Corps, where we served our country. 
Now we just see this as an opportunity to serve our community,” said Todd 
Matrise, Cedar Valley Detachment 99 Marine Corps League Commandant.

In November, the Cedar Valley Marine Corps League will celebrate the 
branch’s anniversary with a birthday ball.

“The event is meant for us to recognize all the exploits, the expeditions, 
all the things that the Marines have done, even before the founding of 
this country. We’re several months older than the country to the present 
day,” said Matrise. “We also recognize the losses that we had our brothers 
that may have given their lives... the ultimate sacrifice for the 
Marines.”

Admission is free for any Marine Corps veterans or active duty members.

Former Commandant Dave Cork said it’s important to be able to celebrate 
the milestone together.

“The Marine Corps is a brotherhood. The Marine Corps is founded on 
tradition and history and camaraderie and esprit de corps that you can’t 
get anywhere else. And this milestone event is a beautiful opportunity to 
celebrate that,” said Cork.

The ball will have everything from a cake-cutting ceremony to an auction 
and even some dancing.

And Matrise said it’s not just for Marines. The general public is welcome 
and encouraged to attend, too.

“You get a wide variety of generations. You’re going to see Korean War 
vets, Vietnam War vets, Afghanistan, Iraq War vets,” said Matrise. “People 
that are just dreaming of the day that they’ve become a Marine. So you can 
see the beginning to the end, just about, and really get an experience of 
all of it at one sitting.”

Celebrating 250 years of service to the American people.

For more information on the ball and how to get tickets, click here.

https://www.kcrg.com/2025/09/28/local-marine-corps-league-host-250th-
anniversary-ball/


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