Monday, May 23, 2005
I Went to My Last Drill
It was a ceremony at the 28th Infantry Division Shrine in Boalsburg, PA. I didn't know much about it before I went, but I figured since their might be some veterans there, I'd cut my hair and get my combat patch (89 MP Brigade) sewn on my class A's to look presentable. Just a couple of Soldiers from my company attended as it wasn't a regular drill date for us (I had asked for some alternative drill dates so that I could be with Mary on our 11th anniversary, since I had missed the 10th). National Guard ceremonies are rather top heavy as most of the attendees are officers, their NCO counterparts, and full time guardsmen (mostly E-6 and E-7s). I took the 28th Memorial Highway all the way there and it was a beautiful drive.
Turns out, even though it was the most "Army" type day I've ever experienced, it made for a great ending to my enlistment. I saw veterans from World War II and the Korean Conflict as well as Kip, my 1st SGT from Falluja, and even the Wolf.
There were about 40 Soldiers from OIF2 who attended the ceremony; we were actually guests and as such we sat facing the audience with the speaker's podium on our left and the boots, ID tags, and rifles of the three guys we lost during the deployment on our right. Of the 4,500 PA Guard Soldiers deployed in OIF and OEF, we've "only" lost three - the first combat deaths since the Korean war. One Soldier was in my deployed company, B 2nd/103 Armor (Forward), the other two were with our company which was cobbled together in Falluja. It was humbling to be up there with them. Several people spoke including the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (or some relation?), who, through tears and a choking voice, thanked the US and the Soldiers of the 28th Division for liberating her country 60 years ago. Unlike the lady from Luxembourg and the Soldiers of WW 2 who liberated her country, we have no idea what it is like to live in oppression.
It's been reported that WW 2 veterans die at a rate of 1,000 per day. They have done an outstanding job of remembering their own fallen, but who will remember them when they are gone?
After the ceremony, several dignitaries came over to shake our hands and the 28th Division Command Sergeant Major gave us his coin.
I also turned my gear into the armory: when I went through the sheet of what I owed, I was a little sad that my beret was on the list. I had thrown it in the closet with my other hats, intending that it not be put in the yard sale pile with my other personal stuff. We never wore the beret on our deployment and I was sickened that it had been co-opted from the Rangers, though it was certainly less costly and less dangerous than GEN Shinseki's other boondoggle, the Stryker. The supply seargent said the beret was mine to keep; I guess, if nothing else, it makes a great memento.
It was a ceremony at the 28th Infantry Division Shrine in Boalsburg, PA. I didn't know much about it before I went, but I figured since their might be some veterans there, I'd cut my hair and get my combat patch (89 MP Brigade) sewn on my class A's to look presentable. Just a couple of Soldiers from my company attended as it wasn't a regular drill date for us (I had asked for some alternative drill dates so that I could be with Mary on our 11th anniversary, since I had missed the 10th). National Guard ceremonies are rather top heavy as most of the attendees are officers, their NCO counterparts, and full time guardsmen (mostly E-6 and E-7s). I took the 28th Memorial Highway all the way there and it was a beautiful drive.
Turns out, even though it was the most "Army" type day I've ever experienced, it made for a great ending to my enlistment. I saw veterans from World War II and the Korean Conflict as well as Kip, my 1st SGT from Falluja, and even the Wolf.
There were about 40 Soldiers from OIF2 who attended the ceremony; we were actually guests and as such we sat facing the audience with the speaker's podium on our left and the boots, ID tags, and rifles of the three guys we lost during the deployment on our right. Of the 4,500 PA Guard Soldiers deployed in OIF and OEF, we've "only" lost three - the first combat deaths since the Korean war. One Soldier was in my deployed company, B 2nd/103 Armor (Forward), the other two were with our company which was cobbled together in Falluja. It was humbling to be up there with them. Several people spoke including the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (or some relation?), who, through tears and a choking voice, thanked the US and the Soldiers of the 28th Division for liberating her country 60 years ago. Unlike the lady from Luxembourg and the Soldiers of WW 2 who liberated her country, we have no idea what it is like to live in oppression.
It's been reported that WW 2 veterans die at a rate of 1,000 per day. They have done an outstanding job of remembering their own fallen, but who will remember them when they are gone?
After the ceremony, several dignitaries came over to shake our hands and the 28th Division Command Sergeant Major gave us his coin.
I also turned my gear into the armory: when I went through the sheet of what I owed, I was a little sad that my beret was on the list. I had thrown it in the closet with my other hats, intending that it not be put in the yard sale pile with my other personal stuff. We never wore the beret on our deployment and I was sickened that it had been co-opted from the Rangers, though it was certainly less costly and less dangerous than GEN Shinseki's other boondoggle, the Stryker. The supply seargent said the beret was mine to keep; I guess, if nothing else, it makes a great memento.
