Marines, friends, and community members will gather at a Basalt watering hole on Monday, Nov. 10, to celebrate the Marine Corps 250th birthday.

The celebration, beginning at noon at the Brick Pony Pub, 202 Midland Ave., Basalt, will also honor Christopher Black, 38, who fell on Jan. 5 while fighting in the Russia-Ukraine War on an elite team of foreign special forces. Black was born in Aspen and graduated from Basalt High School.

The local Marine Corps Birthday tradition was established by Colonel Dick Merritt, who moved to Aspen in the 1960s following 26 years of service to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

“The celebration is open to all Marines and friends of Marines and will be a casual gathering with food and drink to share in camaraderie and stories reflecting on our times and tales with the Marines,” a press release states.