D Company reenlistments take place in front of Constitution

Photo By Rachel Larue | Staff Sgt. Christopher Schneider, Spc. Cody Guidry and Spc. Christopher Gladstone reenlist at the National Archives Rotunda in Washington, Oct. 28, 2014. The rotunda holds the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution, along with murals by artist Barry Faulkner. For more photographs log onto flick.com/photos/jbm-hh. (Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall PAO photo by Rachel Larue)  

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, VA, UNITED STATES

10.30.2014

Story by Jim Dresbach 

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall

WASHINGTON - Three 3rd U.S. Army Infantry (The Old Guard) Delta Company Soldiers reenlisted in front of an iconic American document the morning of Oct. 28 in the rotunda of the National Archives in Washington.

Staff Sgt. Christopher Schneider, Spc. Christopher Gladstone and Spc. Cody Guidry raised their right hands and retook enlistment oaths adjacent to the United States Constitution in a ceremony witnessed by fellow Old Guard Soldiers and officers.

Schneider, who was accompanied by his wife Cynthia and 20-month-old son, Landon, re-upped for seven years while Gladstone and Guidry reenlisted in the Army for an additional three years.

The senior of the reenlistees addressed his fellow Old Guard Soldiers and specifically the two specialists following the oath-taking.

“Gladstone, Guidry, it’s a good life. It’s hard, but it’s the most rewarding [life] you’ll ever have,” said Schneider, a 13-year career Soldier from Manitowoc, Wis., of his Army years. “Continue forward and let your buddies know that this is a good path.”

Guidry is a native of Thibodaux, La., and Gladstone calls Perry Hall, Md., home.

As for his final reenlistment, Schneider was pleased to promise to support and defend the Constitution in front of the original article.

“The fact that we’re stationed in D.C. presented the unique opportunity to do it [the reenlistments] here [at the National Archives],” the staff sergeant said. “It only seemed fitting for me, when presented with the idea, to come here and do it in front of the document itself.”

• Date Taken: 10.30.2014
• Date Posted: 10.30.2014 12:12
• Story ID: 146573
• Location: JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, VA, US
• Hometown: THIBODAUX, LA, US