Fort Riley, Kan- Soldiers and their families gathered Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the Big Red One’s 96th birthday -which is also the U.S. Army’s 238th- with a traditional cake-cutting ceremony.
“The cake is a 27 in triple layer. It has a chocolate mousse filling with vanilla icing on top. The planning started like two weeks ago. It took like maybe three days altogether to get the final stages on it and finish it up. We worked some late hours the last few days, but it all came together as planned,” said Sgt Jeffrey Matthews, Army cook, and co-cake creator.
Matthews has won several American Culinary Federation Medals during his 6 years of service and said this cake has an extra special meaning. “Being 238 years, being able to showcase our talents, being a part of the army, and being a 92G-Food Service Specialist, just to show our appreciation being able to serve and 96 years of the Infantry, it’s an outstanding way to celebrate this special occasion”.
The ceremony was a part of the 1st Infantry Division’s Victory Week celebrations. Victory Week serves as a way to honor current and former soldiers of the division and pay tribute to their fallen comrades. On June 12, the Big Red One will conduct its annual Victory Park Ceremony. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. outside the division’s headquarters building on Fort Riley.
