FORT STEWART, Ga. - Without the Constitution of the U.S., few freedoms would be unalienable and the rights we see as commonplace could cease to exist. This is why one first sergeant in the 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team chose to hang up the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights up in his company’s area.
That soldier is Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st HBCT, Third Infantry Division, 1st Sgt. Kenneth Gamblin.
“There are multiple reasons for hanging up these documents,” said 1st Sgt. Gamblin. “One is when we swear in soldiers and when a soldier re-enlists into our Army, we swear to support and defend the Constitutions of the United States. Many of our soldiers hear about the Constitution and learn about it in school, but it’s only an overview. So this way the document is right here in front of them to read.”
Also adorning the walls right next to these important documents are vital documents pertaining to the Army and the Third Infantry Division itself.
“Not only can they see the Declaration of Independence, but they can see the Bill of Rights and the Constitution which is next to our chain of command wall,” said 1st Sgt. Gamblin. “Next to that is Maj. Gen. Abe Abrams’ vision for our division, so it packages everything together.”
These three documents make up the core of our nation, and the foundation upon which other countries have been established.
“This is everything our country stands for,” he said, “It’s the foundation of not only our country, but many other countries modeled their constitution and governments off of ours. America is not the norm, it is unique. The Constitution is what started it all for us, and the Declaration of Independence before that. Without them we wouldn’t be what we are. Many don’t realize how much the Constitution affects their lives on a federal and state level. For me it is a very historical, political, moral and ethical package.”
The Constitution of the United States is a living, breathing document, adapting to the needs of its citizens.
“The Constitution grows and amends as we grow and change, no country stays the same. We are not the way we were when we started out, and we won’t be this way in the future. The Army is an extension of society, and the Army now isn’t the Army I enjoyed. One can see change even within his or her own military career. If you don’t adapt you aren’t growing, and if you aren’t growing- you’re dying.”
As a soldier leans in to look at the spidery cursive that holds the cornerstone to our nation, it’s evident that this piece of paper has becomes a symbol for freedom.
| Date Taken: |
05.31.2012 |
| Date Posted: |
06.14.2012 07:24 |
| Story ID: |
89963 |
| Location: |
FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: |
154 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, Company first sergeant displays the foundation of America in Headquarters building, by Jared Eastman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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