News Article

By: BILL JONES/Staff Writer
Source: The Greeneville Sun
01-31-2005

More than 150 people took part Saturday evening in a “Light of Freedom Ceremony” hosted by the Family Readiness Group of Troop G of the 278th Regimental Combat Team.

The event was held at the National Guard Armory on Hal Henard Road.

The 6 p.m. ceremony took place on the eve of Sunday’s national elections in Iraq. Last week, a Troop G Family Readiness Group spokesman had said the Light of Freedom Ceremony was being held so that prayers could be offered for the safety of local National Guardsmen who are serving in Iraq and for the success of the elections in Iraq.

This morning, Teresa Carey, the Troop G Family Readiness Group’s leader, said she was “very pleased” with the turnout in light of the threat of snow and ice on Saturday.

“I saw a lot of faces I had not seen before,” said Carey, whose husband, Lester Carey, is serving in Iraq with more than 60 other members of the Greeneville-based National Guard unit. “It was good to see that the community is supporting and hasn’t forgotten our men.”

She noted that some participants in the ceremony came from as far away as Tazewell, although many audience members were from the Greeneville area.

Although many of those who took part were family members of Troop G soldiers, many participants were not believed to have any direct connection to the local National Guard unit, Carey said.

“I want to thank everyone who came out to be with us on Saturday night,” Carey said.

The Family Readiness Group leader said a highlight of the hour-long event for her came when the audience stood and held lighted candles aloft during the ceremony in honor of the Troop G National Guardsmen.

‘It Was Very Touching’

“It was very touching,” Carey said of the moment when the audience rose as one and held candles aloft as the song “Go Light Your World” played.

Following a welcoming introduction by Carey, members of the U.S. Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) unit from Greeneville High School “posted the colors,” carrying the U.S. and Tennessee flags, and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Jama Doty then sang the national anthem.

Rev. Curtis Grissett, pastor of the Pine Grove and Hartman’s Chapel United Methodist Churches, delivered the invocation for the event.

Sgt. 1st Class Tony Mayle, the National Guard recruiter who is assigned to Troop G, then spoke.

Carey said Mayle told the audience that the citizen-soldiers of Troop G were well-prepared for their service in Iraq and said he was confident they would do an excellent job there.

Carey then led a candle-lighting ceremony in which a flame, representing the “Light of Freedom” was transferred from candle to candle until all members of the audience held lighted candles.

Following a benediction delivered by Rev. Grissett, Jama Doty sang “God Bless the USA.”

“She is such a wonderful singer,” Carey said of Doty. “She really added a great deal to the ceremony.”

Carey said Family Readiness Group member Peggy Jones, whose husband, Darwin, is serving in Iraq, had contacted Doty and asked her to sing.

“She even brought her own sound system,” Carey said of Doty. “We used her microphone.”

The ceremony ended with the GHS JROTC unit carrying the national and state flags from the National Guard Armory drill hall where the event took place.

Story Copyright to Greene County Online