Soldiers celebrate Christmas by candlelight

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Angela Mc Kinzie | Spc. Jenna Maravillas (left), an information systems operator with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI) and native of Lake In The Hills, Ill., and Pvt. Dustin Boyd (right), a 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. (LI) chaplains assistant and native of Fredericksburg, Va., sing Christmas carols during a Community Candlelight Service at the 2nd BCT chapel at Camp Striker, Iraq on Dec. 24. Maravillas and Boyd are both members of the church choir.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

12.24.2006

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Angela Mc Kinzie 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs

By Staff Sgt. Angela McKinzie
2nd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. (LI) Public Affairs

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq — In a city where many of the residents must use candlelight because they have no power, Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI) celebrated Christmas by candlelight in Baghdad.

Soldiers of the 2nd "Commando" Brigade and the local community gathered in the 2nd BCT chapel for a Community Candlelight Service Dec. 24 here.

The service was opened with an invocation then members of the choir led the congregation in Christmas carols.

"It was encouraging to take a break from everything and gather with the other believers to celebrate Christmas," said Capt. Scott Carow, a physical therapist and native of Tampa, Fla., serving with the 210th Brigade Support Battalion. Carow, a member of the choir, played the guitar and sang during the service.

Although the Soldiers were unable to be with their families on Christmas Eve, the service offered the warmth of the season.

"The service made me feel like I was at home," said Pfc. Shana Keenan, an intelligence analyst and native of Steubenville, Ohio with the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion. "At home, we do this (attend candlelight services) every year."

While some Soldiers attended the service as part of a home-away-from-home tradition, others rejoiced for the first time.

"This is something different for me," said Sgt. Brendaliz Morales, a 2nd BSTB intelligence analyst and native of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., as she recalled her Christmas family traditions. "My family would get together and stay up until midnight then open presents. But the service allowed me to be with my family
here."

Throughout the ceremony Soldiers united with each other as they lit candles.

"To me, the candlelight service is way of calming down the hustle and bustle of the season and bringing things back to the real meaning," said Spc. Jenna Maravillas, an information systems operator with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd BCT and native of Lake In The Hills, Ill., as she recalled going to candlelight services throughout her childhood. "It was nice to see so many people show up to take time to remember the real meaning of Christmas."

• Date Taken: 12.24.2006
• Date Posted: 12.25.2006 11:31
• Story ID: 8669
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ