Photo By Scott Sturkol | Dozens of community members are shown Nov. 4, 2021, during their participation in the...... read more read more
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Dozens of Fort McCoy community members gathered Nov. 4 for the installation’s annual Veterans Day Prayer Luncheon held at the chapel in building 2672.
The luncheon is organized every year by the Fort McCoy Religious Support Office (RSO), which is part of Fort McCoy Garrison. The 2021 luncheon included retired Wisconsin State Patrol Maj. Darren Price as the guest speaker. Price is now a pastor with the Tomah (Wis.) Pentecostal Assembly.
The luncheon began with Garrison Chaplain (Maj.) Robert Rand providing the welcome to the event. He was followed by pianist Michelle Jones playing and singing the national anthem. She also invited all attendees to sing the anthem, as well.
Jones later played the songs “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and “It Is Well with My Soul.”
Chaplain (Capt.) David Kuntz with the 530th Military Police Battalion provided the invocation, and Fort McCoy community member and regular congregational member Audrey Cepeda sang a solo rendition of “Ever Faithful to the Call” with Jones providing musical accompaniment.
Next was Price giving his presentation. He related a story that compares, figuratively, carpentry nails with people. Nails, when used, can bend or change from their original “perfect” form. They could become imperfect or, as some might refer to them, “bad nails.”
“Some folks discard them (bad nails),” Price said. “As a youth, I used to gather them. I would find a use for them. But even after we did, we had to be careful on how we applied them so that whatever we put our hand to would meet a vision. And also that vision we had in our own mind would help them be successful.”
Price also said he is proud to be a military veteran. He reminded the audience the importance of serving.
“I don’t want you to forget that when you wear that uniform it is a calling in life,” Price said. “Not everybody can wear that uniform. Not everybody has the ability and the skill set and the vision to bring people along for a common mission.”
Much of what Price’s presentation reflected what can be found in his biography, which was printed in the event’s program.
“Pastor Price was rewarded with a cache of life’s golden experiences in the areas of military training, multicultural affairs, executive level leadership, law enforcement, entrepreneurship, and Pentecostal/Apostolic ministry,” states the biography.
Following Price’s presentation, prayers by three people were presented to past service members; families of service members; and for veterans who are police, fire, or emergency medical services personnel.
The prayer for past service members was given by Pastor Brian Young with the Sparta (Wis.) Faith Evangelical Free Church. Father Peter Augustine of the St. John’s Episcopal Church of Sparta gave the prayer for military families. And Chaplain Jef Skinner, a police chaplain, provided the last prayer.
Garrison Commander Col. Michael Poss provided closing remarks and presented Price with a special appreciation plaque and a commander’s coin for excellence. Chaplain (Capt.) Jamal Bey with the 720th Military Police Battalion provided the benediction and ended the formal part of the luncheon.
Eventgoers then participated in a lunch at the RSO office across the street from the chapel.
See videos and additional coverage of the event by visiting the Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office page on DVIDS at https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/FMPAO. Learn more about Fort McCoy online at https://home.army.mil/mccoy, on Facebook by searching “ftmccoy,” and on Twitter by searching “usagmccoy.” Also try downloading the Digital Garrison app to your smartphone and set “Fort McCoy” or another installation as your preferred base.
| Date Taken: | 11.05.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 11.05.2021 17:08 |
| Story ID: | 408803 |
| Location: | FORT MCCOY, WI, US |
| Web Views: | 232 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Dozens attend Fort McCoy’s 2021 Veterans Day Prayer Luncheon, by Scott Sturkol, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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