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Having been to a few Marine Birthday Balls, I wondered how the celebrities who went this year would enjoy the experience. On Saturday night, Justin Timberlake attended the Basic School Instructor Battalion 236th Marine Corps Birthday Ball with Marine Corporal Kelsey DeSantis. John Hinderaker at Power Line posted some notes on the ball from Mr. Timberlake’s website.

Mr. Timberlake described the presentation at the Ball:

What happened then took me by such surprise that I was almost brought to tears. In fact, our whole table was…

They started the ceremony. And, the next thing I knew I was watching a video about Pearl Harbor/WW2 and the September 11 terrorist attacks… It was a video with some first-hand accounts from some Marines who were there… Telling their stories of the sights and sounds of war and rescue. So vivid and real. So honest but, so filled with a sense of compassion and adoration for this wonderful country. They spoke with a pride that only they could have acquired through their experience as a US Marine. There was a common theme that I began to notice as well… No matter what the situation. No matter how dire…

They were there FIRST.

There on the front lines.

No questions… Just reaction.

I have been to a couple of Marine Balls in New Orleans. The most memorable moment for me was sitting next to a young enlisted man who had been in for a few years. He had a chest full of medals. I asked him what they were for, and he sort of avoided the question. After a bit, he turned to me and explained that there were two medals he was really proud of–one was for assisting victims after one of California’s earthquakes, the other was for helping people during one of the wildfires in California. The Marines fighting for our freedom are an amazing bunch.

Thank you, Marines.