Cavalry Soldiers Observe Advent in Iraq
(December 24, 2010) |
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Soldiers assigned to the 4th Advise
and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, stand in line to
place an ornament on the Marez Chapel Christmas tree. Each
ornament holds a prayer request from each soldier and will
remain on the tree through Christmas. Many of these soldiers
have been deployed to Iraq multiple times and are currently
supporting Operation New Dawn until later in 2011. |
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CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq (12/22/2010)
Soldiers from many different backgrounds and cultures come
together to serve in the Army, and one of the times each
year where their traditions are most evident is during the
Christmas season.
Troopers assigned to the 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st
Cavalry Division, recently joined the Long Knife unit
ministry team at Contingency Operating Site Marez, here, to
observe Advent, a practice dating back hundreds of years in
the Christian faith.
“Advent is something Christians observe all over the world,”
said Maj. Mike Patterson, chaplain, 4th AAB, 1st Cav. Div.
“Its observance is about more than just missing family. It
unites Christians in spirit as they observe the Christmas
season no matter where they are.”
Advent is marked by the four Sundays preceding Christmas.
There are several traditions associated with its observance
with the lighting of candles being prevalent among them.
“We are observing Advent with the use of four different
candles symbolizing different sentiments,” Paterson, a
native of Vero Beach, Fla., said. “Each Sunday we light an
additional candle with all four candles symbolizing joy,
peace, hope and love. On Christmas, we will light the fifth
and final candle to symbolize the coming of Christ.”
Soldiers and civilians from COS Marez were eager to
participate in Advent services. Many of them do not observe
Advent as a part of the celebration of Christmas in their
own families but had the opportunity to see how meaningful
it is to others. |
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“I'm really not familiar with it,” said 1st Sgt. Ricardo
Luera, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th AAB, 1st
Cav. Div. “I see it as a traditional practice among some of
my soldiers.”
Sgt. Greg MacKinnon, a civil affairs specialist assigned to
the 412th Civil Affairs Planning Team, is more familiar with
it. “My family didn't observe it growing up, but through my
wife, who is Catholic, I learned more about it,” said the
native of Columbus, Ohio. “It's special to me because it
brings me closer to my wife and the traditions in her
faith.”
Advent is just one way 4th AAB, 1st Cav. Div., soldiers will
celebrate Christmas this year. Soldiers will do their best
to stay connected in spite of being deployed thousands of
miles away from their families.
“Christ is the focus of my family's Christmas celebrations,”
said Luera, a native of Edinburgh, Texas. “We usually open
presents just after midnight, and we definitely go to
church. This year I'll be connected to them through Skype as
they open presents and I get to see the happiness on their
faces through the webcam.”
Since the Long Knife Brigade's inception in 2005, the
brigade has deployed to Iraq three times and spent three
Christmases away from their families. They are now serving
in Iraq for a one-year deployment in support of Operation
New Dawn. |
Article and photo by Army Capt. Philip Crabtree
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
Copyright 2010 | |
Provided
through DVIDS
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