Soldiers commemorate Garry Owen’s Birthday

Photo By Staff Sgt. John Couffer | San Francisco native, Lt. Col. Jay Miseli (right), commander of the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, speaks with his soldiers after completing a squadron run, here, Sept. 21. The run commemorates the activation anniversary of the 7th Cavalry Regiment in 1886.  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

09.21.2012

Story by Sgt. John Couffer 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

FORT HOOD, Texas - It was a memorable event as Maj. Gen. Anthony Ierardi, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, lead a commemorative run with soldiers assigned to the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, here, Sept 21.

The run was a way for soldiers to remember the long heritage and activation of Garry Owen.

“What’s special about this run is it commemorates the anniversary of the 7th Cavalry Regiment which was constituted in 1886 under Lt. Col. Custer, it brings out the traditions and the histories that the 7th Cavalry has,” said St. Louis native, Capt. Christopher Weinrich, the chaplain for Garry Owen.

Weinrich said that motivational runs are conducted to build esprit-de-corps, but this run is important because it shares the history of the regiment by giving a sense of tradition to soldiers in seeing their leaders in action by leading the way during the run.

San Francisco native Lt. Col. Jay Miseli, commander of Garry Owen, says that it is a privilege to lead the soldiers and honor the past during this run.

“To me, it’s a physical manifestation of the privilege to command this great squadron. Day-to-day, I get to lead these fine soldiers in all of our activities and our missions. I’ll get to lead (the soldiers) through this run, take it through (and) finish it up. We’re going to have Custer’s colors out there so it will be commemorating the whole 146-year history of this event and the squadron that carries those colors,” Miseli said.

Miseli said this run not only commemorates the history and traditions of the 7th Cavalry, but the most important thing, its soldiers.

“That’s who this is really about, is the soldiers who make up this great squadron,” Miseli added.

New Orleans native and senior noncommissioned officer for Garry Owen, Command Sgt. Maj. William Burford said that the run is a great way to come together as a team, like soldiers in the past.
“It’s a chance for us to all come together, for us to get some good exercise, and for us to do a concerted movement the same way that we did in the cavalry, in the old days, moving in a formation,” Burford said.

He also said the run is a way to exhibit pride, have fun and celebrate Garry Owen’s birthday.

“Our history and our legacy runs deep. We want to be proud of who we are, we’re going to all start together, we’re all going to finish together, and we’re going to have a great time. We’re going to celebrate the birthday of the regiment,” Burford said.

For one soldier assigned to Garry Owen, running is a way to represent the unit and its accomplishments.

(It’s) pretty awesome to celebrate everything we’ve done in the past (and) show off to other units,” said Missouri native, Spc. Phillip Plack, a Cavalry Scout assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop of Garry Owen.

Plack also said the run is an opportunity to remember the past and look towards the future.

“For me, it’s just to remember those who came before us and who are still yet to come, to remember all of what we have done, what the unit has done, (and to) remember the past and what the future still holds,” Plack said.

• Date Taken: 09.21.2012
• Date Posted: 10.02.2012 16:53
• Story ID: 95614
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US