Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Rauel Tirado | Brooke Wiles (center), 19, native of New Orleans, is sworn in during a mass enlistment...... read more read more
By Staff Sgt. Rauel Tirado
204th Public Affairs Detachment, 143d ESC
NEW ORLEANS – On a beautiful autumn day, thousands of people lined the streets of the French Quarter to honor service members of all the branches of the military during the Louisiana Bicentennial Military Parade that included a mass enlistment ceremony for more than 180 new recruits into the U.S. Armed Forces, Nov. 10.
About 200 soldiers representing the 377th Theater Sustainment command joined more than 2,000 service members along the route that also featured several veterans organizations, ROTC units and a variety of both modern and vintage military vehicles. The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps from Washington, D.C., lead the procession.
The parade was part of yearlong series of events celebrating Louisiana’s 200 years of statehood.
From the beginning of the parade at Jackson Square, service members and new recruits were showered with cheers of support and gratitude along the two-mile route that ended at the National World War II Museum. For many service members, the show up support from a community is nothing new, but for the young recruits it was a memorable occasion that they will remember for the rest their lives.
After service members marched past the WWII Museum, the enlistees fell into a mass formation in front of the venue to be sworn in by Maj. Gen. Peter S. Lennon, commanding general of the 377th Theater Sustainment Command. Hundreds of people watched and cheered as the new recruits took their oath to serve their country.
“It was a kick,” said Lennon, referring to his excitement after leading the enlistment ceremony. “We don’t realize that we’re in a situation that less than 25 of 100 young men and women between the ages of 18 and 25, are able to get into the military without a waiver.”
Lennon said, the enlistees in the parade have many different choices in their lives but choose to join the military and serve their country. He expressed his pride in all of them, calling the new service members the future of the military.
The young recruits were inspired to enlist for several different reasons.
“My uncle, who is in the military, raised me in my life and pushed me to join the Army when I was younger,” said Brooke Wiles, 19, a New Orleans native who’s planning to become an electronic technician. “I like the military structure of life, which I grew up in. I would like to make a career out of the military and someday apply for officer candidate school.”
For some recruits, inspiration comes from family tradition.
“A lot of my family members have served before me and I feel that I should serve as well,” said 19-year-old Gunner Patterson, native of Folsom, La., with plans to join the infantry. “My grandfather served and was part of the Normandy invasion. I feel that not just anybody can do this job. It takes a special individual to join the military and I believe I can do this.”
Not all the recruits come from a military background.
“I’ll be the first one in my family to join the Army,” said Metairie, La. native Samantha Dowling. The 22-year-old plans to become a military police officer. “My mother did not want me to join at first, but later she was proud of me. It’s something that I always wanted to do.”
The ceremony represented a life changing moment for the recruits. No one joins the military alone. Their decision to enlist, not only affects their lives, but the lives of their family members and friends.
Lennon offered advice to the enlistees, saying they should first strengthen the relationship with their family. Then build relationships with people they go to basic training with, since they’ll see them throughout their career. He also stressed the importance of not only having, but also being a good battle buddy because they’re going to need and be needed during those difficult times.
“There are two family names on your uniform, one is your given name and one is the U.S. Army,” said Lennon. “We are a family. The Department of Defense, soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors are a family. We must continue to act that way during these challenging times, because together we can make it through.”
| Date Taken: | 11.10.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.11.2012 18:57 |
| Story ID: | 97637 |
| Location: | NEW ORLEANS, LA, US |
| Web Views: | 129 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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