Commissioning Ceremony For Second Lieutenant Daniel Gottlieb

By Grace Macdonald

Last Saturday was a typical steamy summer day for most Rye residents, who were likely to be found either at the beach or anywhere with air conditioning. But for the Gottlieb family, this was no ordinary day. On July 13, 2019, Daniel Gottlieb, the eldest son of Jay and Bonni Gottlieb of Greenhaven, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of the Marine Corps in an official commissioning ceremony at his home as his family and friends proudly watched. Daniel is a 2015 graduate of Rye Neck High School. He played football and lacrosse at Mamaroneck and Rye Neck High Schools and went on to play four years of college football at Union College, where he earned Liberty League All-Academic Honors for four years.

The Marine commissioning ceremony is a formal ceremony that marks a candidate’s transition from candidate to Second Lieutenant, the first officer rank attained after college. While there are certain basic requirements, a Marine commissioning ceremony may be a very personal event. Daniel Gottlieb’s ceremony included an oath of office read by the two active Marines who were present. They emphasized the core belief that a Marine’s sole duty is to protect the United States and serve bravely. Next, Daniel’s parents pinned a single gold bar on each shoulder as a representation of his rank in the Marine Corps. The ceremony came to a close when Daniel received his first official military salute from his grandfather, an Army veteran. In keeping with Marine tradition to honor the enlisted service member who had the greatest impact on him, Daniel passed a silver dollar to his grandfather after returning the salute. The commissioning ceremony was a perfect example of long-standing American tradition and patriotism.

Becoming a Second Lieutenant is no easy task. It requires months of rigorous training and physical and emotional preparation, and not every candidate succeeds in his or her quest to become a Second Lieutenant. And it’s worth noting that while he was going through this process to become a Marine, Daniel was also a student and varsity football player at Union College. This makes his accomplishments all the more impressive.

Daniel’s parents had plenty of things to say about their son’s journey and achievements. His father Jay Gottlieb said, “Daniel has always had this drive in him, and I couldn’t be prouder. I’m so proud of his journey to become a Marine.” Bonni Gottlieb, Daniel’s mother, echoed these sentiments, saying, “Daniel has always been a young man of honor, and it was all summed up today in this beautiful ceremony.” There was no shortage of pride, both for Daniel and the United States, at the Gottlieb home on Saturday.

Daniel has signed a contract with the Marine Corps to serve as a Judge Advocate General upon his completion of law school. He will attend the University of Miami School of Law this fall.