SIMI VALLEY, Calif. -- Hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the birth of a man who has left his print forever in American and world history. The crowd stood tall and their hands laid over their hearts as Marine Band San Diego played the national anthem and the guests began softly singing along to the melody during the opening ceremony.

A white-rose wreath was laid at former President Ronald Reagan’s tomb on his 102nd birthday. This event is held annually to commemorate the 40th President of the United States and his distinguished service to the nation.

This year’s event began with the marching of the colors, followed by a 21-gun salute, comments and the traditional wreath laying.

“Ronald Reagan showed courage that we can admire as Marines,” said Brig. Gen. Vincent A. Coglianese, the regional authority for five Marine Corps installations in the Southwestern United States. “It was under his watch that the military, once again, could hold their heads up higher. He helped bring pride back into our service in the military.”

Reagan accepted the Marine Corps as America’s 911 fighting force. He called upon the Marine Corps in 1983 during the invasion of Grenada following the Beirut barracks bombing.

“I don’t think there is any doubt that the two most consequential Presidents of the 20th Century are Franklin Roosevelt the first half of the century and Ronald Reagan in the second half of the century,” said former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. “There are probably only three American presidents that have delivered so many millions of people out of bondage and oppression: Abraham Lincoln, slavery; Franklin Roosevelt, fascism and Nazism; and Ronald Reagan, communism.”

After the ceremony concluded, John Heubusch, the executive director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, invited guests to have birthday cake and tour the library.

Contact Lance Cpl. Peracca at trevon.peracca@usmc.mil