69th ADA celebrates St Barbara`s Day with formal ball

B4
LEISURE
December 17, 2015
www.FortHoodSentinel.com
Photos by Spc. Jacqueline Dowland, 13th PAD
Instrumentalists specializing in various instruments join in harmony during the Williamson County Symphony Orchestra Christ-
mas Concert Series performance at Howze Auditorium, Saturday.
The orchestra has loyally graced Fort Hood families with their free
performances for the last 11 years. The orchestra is comprised of
non-professional, volunteer musicians.
Joining together in harmony for a Holiday Celebration
BY SPC. JACQUELINE DOWLAND
13th PAD
A hush fell over the theater as
the performers on the stage picked
up their instruments and began
to play. Despite the varying backgrounds of the instrumentalists,
every participant contributed their
own unique talent to the team for
the enjoyment of the eager citizens.
Howze Auditorium filled with the
harmonious sound of the Williamson County Symphony Orchestra
as they performed for Soldiers and
Families of the local community,
Saturday.
The orchestra has loyally graced
Fort Hood Families with their free
performances for the last eleven
years. The theme of this year’s performance was “Everybody Needs a
Little Christmas.”
The Williamson County Symphony Orchestra, originally formed
under the name Hill Country Community Orchestra, was established
in early 2002. The orchestra was
founded to allow for non-professional adult musicians and students
to perform in a committed orchestra environment regardless of their
varying day jobs.
“So many of us have to earn
a living, and there’s not a lot of
money in music, but there’s a lot of
beauty and joy,” said Gordon, who
plays second chair trumpet for the
orchestra, and an electrical engineer
by trade. “So we work during the
daytime to support our Families,
and in the evenings, we practice
and add beauty to the world around
us.”
The Williamson County Symphony Orchestra played a wide variety of music for Soldiers and their
Families, ranging from seasonal
music to patriotic songs. Regardless
of the types of music performed,
the common theme is that all songs
are of an uplifting nature to boost
the holiday spirit and morale of the
Soldiers and their Families.
“We want to buoy the spirits,”
Gordon said. “We try to provide
a sense of wonder and joy for the
Families that come to see the performance.”
Audience participation was
Dr. Thomas Rainey, director of music, smiles as he’s surrounded by applause
from everyone in attendance during the Williamson County Symphony Orchestra Christmas Concert Series performance at Howze Auditorium, Saturday. The
Orchestra was established to provide an opportunity for non-professional adult
musicians and talented students to perform in a dedicated orchestra environment.
encouraged in several ways during the concert. Audience members
were encouraged to stand when
they heard their branch’s song
played during the “Armed Forces
Salute,” as members of the other
branches applauded their fellow
brothers- and sisters-in-arms.
Children were also invited
to come onstage, so the various
instrument sounds of the “Sleigh
Ride” song could be explained to
them.
“The concert was very Family
friendly,” said Peter Takovich, who
brought his wife and daughter to
the event. “The children really
enjoyed taking part in it.”
Violinist Mary Ann Hetrick
founded the Williamson County
Symphony Orchestra with the
intent to provide an outlet for musicians in the community who enjoy
performing together. The spirit of
this camaraderie from all walks of
life mirrors the dedication and selfless service of the members of the
symphony’s audience.
“We bring this up here to Fort
Hood, to the Soldiers and their
Families, because they sacrifice so
much for us,” Gordon said.
As the synchronized flow of
the music came to an end, the
performers smiled as the audience
jumped to their feet in appreciation
of the motivating performance. As
the applause echoed through the
auditorium, another year’s impressive performance helped to ring in
the holiday season in the Fort Hood
community.
69th ADA celebrates St Barbara’s Day with formal ball
BY STAFF SGT.
KIMBERLY LESSMEISTER
69th ADA Public Affairs
Every December, the Soldiers of
69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade
hold a St. Barbara’s Day Ball to pay
homage to St. Barbara, the patron
saint of artillery.
According to mythology, St. Barbara was killed by her father for
practicing Christianity. After she was
killed, her father was struck down by
lightning and the thunderous boom,
which is similar to the sound of artillery fire, is how she became associated as the patron saint of artillery.
Soldiers of 69th ADA Bde., the
“Lightning Brigade,” celebrated St.
Barbara’s Day with a formal military
ball Dec. 10, at the Killeen Convention Center.
Col. Richard Harrison, the brigade
commander, said the St. Barbara’s
Day ball upholds the tradition and
pride of air defense artillery.
Part of the tradition of a St. Barbara’s Day ball is the issuing of the
Honorable Order of St. Barbara and
the Ancient Order of St. Barbara.
The Honorable Order of St. Barbara is presented to individuals who
have made significant contributions
to the air defense artillery branch,
Harrison said.
The Ancient Order of St. Barbara
is given to those who have served
exceptionally in artillery and have
done even more than those who
earned the Honorable Order of St.
Barbara.
“It’s a prestigious medal that a
Soldier can wear throughout his or
her career,” Harrison explained. “We
even give it to non-ADA Soldiers
too.”
Harrison said it was a “great
moment” when he received his first
Honorable Order of St. Barbara
medal nearly 15 years ago as a battery
commander for 1st Battalion, 62nd
ADA Regiment, which is currently
assigned to 69th ADA Bde.
“It was a tremendous honor to
receive the (Honorable Order of St.
Barbara medal) as a young captain in
command,” he said.
Capt. Miclos St. Fleur, the battery commander for Battery B, 1st
Photo by Capt. Robert Holmes, 69th ADA Bde. Public Affairs
Capt. Miclos St. Fleur (right), the battery commander for Btry. B, 1-44 ADA
Regt., 69th ADA Bde., receives the Honorable Order of St. Barbara medal
from Brig. Gen. Randall McIntire, a previous commander of 69th ADA Bde.,
during a St. Barbara’s Day ball Dec. 10, at the Killeen Convention Center in
Killeen.
Battalion, 44th ADA Regiment,
received the Honorable Order of
St. Barbara medal after serving more
than seven years in the air defense
artillery branch.
“It was a surreal moment for me,”
he said. “I felt proud of myself and
proud to be an air defense officer.”
Pride is something Harrison said
he looked forward to witnessing during the occasion.
“I enjoy seeing our Soldiers filled
with pride when they receive something they worked so hard for,” Harrison said.
Selected spouses received the Honorable Order of Molly Pitcher.
During the Battle of Monmouth,
the spouse of a Soldier continuously
supplied the men firing cannons with
water. Once her husband was killed,
the woman, nicknamed “Molly
Pitcher,” continued firing from his
cannon, Harrison said.
“It shows that selfless service, so we
give it to the spouses who’ve given
to our branch and who’ve made
significant contribution through selfless service and volunteering,” he
explained.
A guest also speaks at the St. Barbara’s Day events.
As a battalion commander, Harrison hosted a St. Barbara’s Day event
in the United Arab Emirates, he said.
“We paid homage to the patron
saint there and I was fortunate
enough to go back a few years later as
a colonel be the guest speaker at my
(former) battalion’s St. Barbara’s Day
ball,” he said.
This year, Harrison invited Brig.
Gen. Randall McIntire, who previously commanded 69th ADA Bde.,
to speak at the event.
“This is his first event as a general
officer and he’s speaking at his old
brigade,” Harrison said. “It reminds
me of my time going back to speak
(at my battalion) and how I felt.”
The event featured a Soldier
dressed up as the Oozlefinch, the
unofficial mascot of air defense artillery, and a grog ceremony, where
leaders of the brigade shared information about the history of the brigade and branch while pouring representative liquids in the grog bowl as
an allusion to that history.
“It’s unique to our branch,” Harrison explained. “Our history is tied
into it, as well.”
The St. Barbara’s Day celebration
is something St. Fleur said he has
never missed.
“It’s a moment where you all come
together as air defenders and you
can really be proud of your branch
and where the branch came from,”
he said.
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