SEOUL, South Korea - The commander of the 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, hosted the annual Saint Barbara’s Day Ball Feb. 12, 2015 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul, South Korea, to celebrate her honor as the patron saint of artillery.
The legend of Saint Barbara dates back to 300 A.D. in Asia Minor, when a nobleman kept his daughter from the world for fear of having her beauty courted in marriage. Later in life, when her father left on a journey, she spent much time in contemplation and began to accept the teachings of Christianity.
Her conversion to Christianity enraged her father, who ordered to have her killed. Immediately following her death, the father was struck by lightning as punishment for his deed. The legend of the lightning strike caused Barbara to be regarded as the patron saint of sudden death.
With the invention of gunpowder, she was invoked by many for protection against accidental explosions, leading her to become the patroness of the artillerymen.
"Early artillery pieces were very dangerous and had the tendency to blow up," said Col. Michael Lawson, the event's host. "Soldiers that were in artillery often put their life in their hands by firing the artillery piece itself. Having a patron saint, that they could look to when things were tough, was always very rewarding for them."
The ball, which was attended by more than 500 guests, began with a social hour outside the hotel’s grand ballroom. There, guests enjoyed unit pride tables that were set up by the brigade’s battalions. The displays showcased the mission capabilities of individual units, including a model rocket pod and an intricate ice sculpture in the shape of a Heavy Extended Mobility Tactical Vehicle.
After dinner, the field artillery punch bowl ceremony took place, a tradition dating back to the Continental Army.
Command Sgt. Maj. Mark L. Brinton, the brigade's senior enlisted leader, began the tradition by pouring the base charge while senior noncommissioned officers from individual batteries and battalions poured additional charges; each symbolizing the heritage of artillerymen and all who serve.
“It’s carrying on a tradition dating back over 200 years,” said Brinton. “Senior artillerymen of the brigade, who are all Saint Barbara’s members, will add ingredients to make a combination that all the new members have to drink to be officially inducted into the ranks of the honorable Orders of Saint Barbara.”
Inductions of the Order of Saint Barbara followed the mixing of the artillery punch where 60 artillerymen were inducted into the Order.
The Order of Saint Barbara is a recognition to contributions of commanders or recognition by our brothers-in-arms, whether infantry, armored or aviation, said Lawson.
"For the noncommissioned officers, it's a recognition of a life of professional Soldiering that has contributed to the development of not just them personally but a large number of Soldiers who help the traditions of the artillerymen," added Lawson.
During the event, the Artillery Order of Molly Pitcher awards were also presented to nine spouses for their significant contributions to improving the field artillery community. Mary Ludwig Hays, better known as “Molly Pitcher,” served bravely alongside her husband William Hays in the American Revolutionary War by carrying water to tired Soldiers and firing artillery rounds when her husband was wounded. The Order of Molly Pitcher was later made in dedication to her service.
"The opportunity for artillerymen, and those that artillerymen support, to see the traditions of the artillery expressed through Saint Barbara's Day Ball is very important," said Lawson.
The brigade's annual Saint Barbara’s Day Ball is the only celebration held in honor of Saint Barbara in Korea. Because of the uniqueness in the peninsula, it was possible for artillery units around the country to gather, including guests from the Republic of Korea Army.
“Today’s event is very meaningful because it is an event that both the U.S. Army and ROK Army are participating with the same idea and purpose,” said Maj. Gen. Jung-il Oh, the former commandant of ROK Field Artillery School and now Chief of Civil Military Operations, Joint Chief of Staff, Republic of Korea.
According to Oh, the ball was a chance for both U.S. and ROK artillery forces to get to know each other better, strengthening the alliance through friendship.
"To show them the awareness of tradition that we have, share it with them and recognize their contributions - not just to their artillery, but to our alliance - is very valuable," said Lawson.
| Date Taken: | 02.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.03.2015 08:51 |
| Story ID: | 155770 |
| Location: | 41, KR |
| Web Views: | 32 |
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