98-Year-Old Green dragon

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Angel Martinez-Navedo | Brig. Gen. William E. King IV (left), commanding general and host of the event, Command Sgt. Maj. Ken Graham (right), and Pvt. Tedrick Jackson, all members of the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command (CBRNE), make the ceremonial cutting of the cake during the National Capital Region Green Dragon Ball at Martin’s East Convention Center, Baltimore on Aug. 5. Traditionally, the junior Soldier representing the future, the senior enlisted representing the wisdom and the host representing the vision do the honors. This event marks the 98th anniversary of the Chemical Corps.  

BALTIMORE, MD, UNITED STATES

08.05.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Angel Martinez-Navedo 

20th CBRNE Command

BALTIMORE – Top Army leaders gathered to celebrate the Chemical Corps’ 98th Anniversary through the National Capital Region Green Dragon Ball at Martin’s East Convention Center on Aug. 5.
The Green Dragon Ball, making reference to the dragon on the Chemical Corps insignia, was attended by many senior U.S. military and civilian officials including Brig. Gen. William E. King IV, commanding general of the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command (CBRNE) and host of the event; Lt. Gen. Thomas W. Spoehr, director of the U.S. Army Office of Business Transformation and guest speaker for the event, and 20th CBRNE Command Sgt. Maj. Ken Graham.
During the ball, Soldiers and civilians were inducted into the Order of the Dragon (OOD) by the Chemical Corps Regimental Association. The OOD consists of three awards: the Ancient Order, the Honorable Order, and the Carol Ann Watson Spouse Award. Although, this year there were no recipients for the latter.
According to the CCRA, these awards recognize "Dragon Soldiers” and their spouses for demonstrating high standards of integrity and moral character, outstanding degree of professional competence, and have contributed to the promotion of the Chemical Corps in numerous ways over the course of their career.
Other customary acts of the evening were the traditional toasts, the cutting of the cake with the sword and the assembly of the Regimental Punch.
The corps will keep celebrating its ball for as long they can keep carrying out their mission… to defend the nation against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons. It has not changed since its creation in 1918, and it seems it will not change into the foreseeable future.

• Date Taken: 08.05.2016
• Date Posted: 08.08.2016 19:45
• Story ID: 206458
• Location: BALTIMORE, MD, US
• Hometown: BALTIMORE, MD, US
• Hometown: VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, US
• Hometown: WASHINGTON, DC, US