Photo By Capt. Michael Greenberger | Maj. Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, commanding general, Combined Joint Task Force-82 and...... read more read more
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BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - U.S. Forces in Afghanistan kicked off the 4th of July with a rockin' ceremony marking America's 233rd birthday.
Two service members each from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, eight in all, headlined the event by re-enlisting in their respective branches to extend their tours of duty.
On hand to administer their oath of enlistment was Maj. Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, commanding general, Combined Joint Task Force-82 and Regional Command East.
"It was very special," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Marquell Vance, yeoman, one of the service members re-enlisting. "How many E-4s can say they were re-enlisted by the commanding general on the 4th of July?"
This is Vance's first re-enlistment in which he signed up for another three years of service with the Navy.
Following the re-enlistment ceremony Army Sgt. Jeannie Tauala took the stage to sing "America the Beautiful." As her voice filled the red, white and blue-clad "clamshell" tent, members of the audience, flushed with pride, burst into thunderous applause when she completed her song.
"It was a huge honor to sing that song on this day," Tauala said. "It was an honor not only to sing for the commander but for all the service members not in our homeland on this day. I feel blessed."
Following Tauala's patriotic song several service members read poems to the audience, such as Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Phillis Noiseaux's recitation dubbed "Wake the Memory of the Dead."
"The spirit of the poem itself captured my personal spirit" said Noiseaux. "Pride does not come at any particular moment or opportunity.
I was humbled today and my heart delivered."
After the ceremony concluded, the CJTF-82 Band relinquished the musical atmosphere to "No Reserve", a rock ensemble also provided by CJTF-82.
The military 5-piece rock band belted out hits ranging from Led Zeppelin to Fall Out Boy. Among their sets, an original song composed by guitarist Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Quinones called "Fallen Comrades".
"I was inspired by two fallen comrade ceremonies," Quinones said. "In one ceremony, an Air Force sergeant was overwhelmed with tears because she lost a buddy and it just hit me."
Playing guitar since 1992, Quinones wrote the lyrics and melody in ten minutes on the Bagram Airfield flight line.
| Date Taken: | 07.05.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 07.05.2009 02:33 |
| Story ID: | 35975 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 490 |
| Downloads: | 460 |
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