Historic artillery unit holds 170th annual Troop review

Photo By Sgt. Michael Owens | Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery Regiment marches past the reviewing stand at their 170th annual Pass-In-Review ceremony at Lafreniere Park in Metairie, La., Oct. 19.  

METAIRIE, LA, UNITED STATES

12.03.2008

Story by Sgt. Michael Owens 

Louisiana National Guard

By Sgt. Michael L. Owens
Louisiana National Guard

METAIRIE, La. – The 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery Regiment, also known as the Washington Artillery, held its 170th Pass-In-Review at Lafreniere Park in Metairie, La., Oct. 18.

The Louisiana National Guard's 156th Army Band began the ceremony by playing the traditional military march, "Semper Fidelis," as each battery, led by its commander, marched onto the field in unison.

Once the Soldiers were in their places and at attention, Maj. Gen. Hunt B. Downer, Louisiana National Guard assistant adjutant general, stepped onto the reviewing stage with 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team commander Col. Jonathan T. Ball and Lt. Col. Brian P. Champagne, 1-141 commander, and captured their initial view of the formation they would later inspect.

During the ceremony B Battery was awarded the "Continuous Fire" streamer for being the best firing battery of the year, while A Battery received the "Try Us" streamer for superior overall unit performance.

Nelson Ardoin, president of the Washington Artillery Veterans Association also presented Spc. Douglas G. Cook of New Orleans with the "Outstanding Enlisted Soldier of the Year" award and Staff Sgt. Michael B. Lacoste of New Orleans was presented the "Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year" award by Col. Edward P. Benezech (Ret.), a WAVA board member.

"The military is all about tradition," said Downer as he addressed the battalion and guests. "As you stand here and honor the service of the Troops of the past, you must understand that the Soldiers of the future will stand in this exact type of formation and honor the service that you are giving today," he said.

Downer also spoke of the battalion giving its selfless service during Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike. "Many of these Soldiers lost their homes, but without thinking twice, they pulled themselves up by their boot straps and served their communities with great pride."

Ball also thanked the unit members for their service during the recent hurricane operations in New Orleans. "Since the battalion performed its duties proficiently, you all helped me pass my first test as brigade commander," said Ball.

Champagne took the time to thank the families of his Soldiers for their sacrifices. He acknowledged that families play an important role in the unit because of the support they give to each and every member of the battalion. "Without these families standing here, we could not be the effective unit that we are. They sacrifice a lot while we are gone answering the call of duty," he said.

"This training year has been a success. When Gustav passed through the city, you all left your families and performed your mission effectively. Through the ups and downs of this year, we still had one of the highest retention rates in Louisiana," explained Champagne.

Once the crowd had been addressed, the reviewing party loaded onto Humvees and began to inspect the formation. As the vehicles drove past the formation, Downer thanked each battery commander for the service given to the Louisiana National Guard.

As the ceremony drew to a close, the band struck up the tune "Washington Post," and the battalion marched past the reviewing stand for a final evaluation. As each battery approached the stand, Downer acknowledged them with a salute. Once the entire formation had marched past, Champagne stood at attention and dismissed them with a "Job well done."

"I will remember this day for as long as I live," said 20-year-old New Orleans native Pfc. Derick R. Mendoza of B Battery. Having been in the National Guard for only a year, Mendoza had never seen or been part of a Pass-In-Review. "I felt honored to take part in a military tradition that has been around for centuries."

• Date Taken: 12.03.2008
• Date Posted: 12.03.2008 14:02
• Story ID: 27136
• Location: METAIRIE, LA, US