Captain Timothy Sparks, Joint Base Charleston deputy commander, walks the red carpet with his wife, Brenda, at the start of the Navy Ball at the Charleston Marriott Hotel on Oct. 17, 2015. The Navy Ball was celebrating the Navy’s 240th birthday.

Colonel Robert Lyman, 628th Air Base Wing commander, walks the red carpet with his wife, Nancy, at the start of the Navy Ball at the Charleston Marriott Hotel on Oct. 17, 2015. The Navy Ball was celebrating the Navy’s 240th birthday.

Rear Admiral David Steindl, Navy Personnel Command deputy chief walks down the red carpet at the start of the Navy Ball on Oct. 17, 2015, celebrating the Navy’s 240th birthday at the Charleston Marriott Hotel. Steindl was the guest speaker at the Navy Ball.

The Navy’s Color Guard presents the colors during the Navy Ball celebrating the Navy’s 240th birthday at the Charleston Marriott Hotel on Oct. 17, 2015. After presenting the colors, the Navy’s Honor Guard conducted a small ceremony in honor of fallen military members from all branches.

Captain Timothy Sparks presents a gift to Rear Admiral David Steindl, Navy Personnel Command deputy chief, celebrating the Navy’s 240th birthday at the Navy Ball on Oct. 17, 2015, at the Charleston Marriott Hotel. Steindl was the guest speaker at the Navy Ball.

Sam Kirton, Navy retired Master Chief Petty Officer, cuts the Navy’s birthday cake with Fireman Nicholas Scorsome, Naval Power Training Unit student, at the Navy Ball for the Navy’s 240th birthday at the Charleston Marriott Hotel on Oct. 17, 2015. To cut the cake, the speaker chose the oldest and youngest Navy members attending the Navy Ball.