Military Police hold first service at Watchdog Chapel

Courtesy Photo | Lt. Col. Marshall Peterson, chaplain 8th Military Police Brigade, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, reviews scripture readings for the second Sunday of Advent. Peterson, a native of Jamestown, N.Y., transformed a general assembly room into the Watchdog Chapel.Lt. Col. Marshall Peterson, chaplain 8th Military Police Brigade, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, reviews scripture readings for the second Sunday of Advent. Peterson, a native of Jamestown, N.Y., transformed a general assembly room into the Watchdog Chapel.Lt. Col. Marshall Peterson, chaplain 8th Military Police Brigade, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, reviews scripture readings for the second Sunday of Advent. Peterson, a native of Jamestown, N.Y., transformed a general assembly room into the Watchdog Chapel.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

12.08.2008

Courtesy Story

Multi-National Division Baghdad

By Ray McNulty
8th Military Police Brigade

BAGHDAD, Iraq – The second Sunday of Advent, will be remembered by the 8th Military Police Brigade as the day when an all-purpose room became the "Watchdog" Chapel, site for the brigade's non-denominational worship service.

The assembly area formerly named the Hall of Flags by the 18th MP Bde. was designated the spiritual epicenter of the 8th MP Bde. by its commander Col. Byron Freeman, a native of Norfolk, Va.

The area was transformed into a worship space with an emphasis on home and the Christmas season by Lt. Col. Marshall Peterson, chaplain, 8th MP Bde., and a native of Jamestown, N.Y.

"This is my third deployment in Iraq. I know how important access to spirituality and worship is to the Soldiers serving away from homes and their families," said Peterson. "Both Col. Freeman and I are committed to making worship available to Soldiers especially in need of a link to home during the holidays. The Watchdog Chapel is decorated for the holidays with a Christmas tree with all the trimmings, greenery, lights and praise banners."

Peterson noted the focal point of the Chapel's Sunday service is a multi-media presentation projected above the altar depicting the Soldier's families at their home base in Hawaii.

"Family is what we're all about. Love of country and family are why we serve, and the photo montage is appropriate while we are on deployment."

Following the congregation's singing the entrance hymns "Joy to the World" and "O Come All Ye Faithful", Freeman and Peterson dedicated the Chapel.

The first Chapel worship and communion service coincided with Pearl Harbor Day, the commemoration of the attack on U.S. forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 67 years ago on Dec. 7, 1941. Pearl Harbor Day has special significance for the 8th MP Bde. as its home base is Schofield Barracks, the target of enemy fire that day.

Appropriate to the day, Peterson spoke on the intersection of patriotism, faith and the promise of the Christmas season.

Freeman, said, "Just as it is important that a Soldier be physically fit, it is important that Soldier be spiritually fit. This new chapel shows that the opportunity for worship is freely available at the 8th MP Brigade."

• Date Taken: 12.08.2008
• Date Posted: 12.08.2008 06:46
• Story ID: 27310
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ