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By Maj. Lee Peters
1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division
AR RAMADI, Iraq – With a flick of a switch, an ordinary palm tree in the grove transformed into one adorned with spiraled, white Christmas lights and illuminated the night.
More than 150 service members gathered at the 1st Brigade Combat Team headquarters in Camp Ramadi to listen to holiday music provided by the 3rd Infantry Division's brass band, the lighting of the tree and take photos with Santa Claus.
On a clear Friday evening, Maj. David Bowerman, the brigade chaplain, provided the opening invocation for the inaugural tree-lighting ceremony and praised this holiday as a time for hope and peace.
"We ask that you lift our spirits and give us strength," Bowerman said. "Let this light shine tonight as a symbol of our eternal hope for peace on the earth."
Col. John Charlton, 1st BCT commander, spoke about the sacrifices that service members, families and Iraqis have given over the past year.
"I know that a lot of you wish you were home with your family at this time of year," Charlton said, "but remember the sacrifices we make today will help keep our families safe tomorrow."
Many of the attendees said that although they are deployed to Iraq and away from their families, this ceremony helps them remember traditions celebrated at home.
"It was a nice ceremony," said Sgt. Valerie Zamora, brigade operations supply sergeant. "It reminded me of San Antonio and being with family."
Spc. Jessica Prevat, human resources specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st BCT, enjoyed the ceremony with her husband, Pfc. Kenneth Prevat, B battery, 1st Battalion, 41st Artillery, even though it was in Ramadi.
"It is good to have him here with me, and although it is not home, we have it better than most soldiers have it because we are together," she said.
Approximately 50 soldiers took photos with an inflatable Santa Claus after the tree was lit. Although it doesn't make up for an actual Santa, it gives the soldiers an early Christmas gift to send home to loved ones.
"I took a photo with Santa Claus and some of his helpers," said Maj. Drew Kelly, 1st brigade engineer planner, "and I sent it home to my family."
Although tree-lighting ceremonies can be traced to at least 1923 when President Calvin Coolidge presided over the first lighting of the national christmas tree, this is the first tree lighting ceremony held on Camp Ramadi.
| Date Taken: | 12.21.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 12.21.2007 14:52 |
| Story ID: | 14914 |
| Location: | RAMADI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 307 |
| Downloads: | 287 |
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