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PUBLIC INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
PO Box 567, Buies Creek, NC 27506
Tel: (910) 893-1224 w Fax: (910) 893-1922
ROTC Pinning On Ceremony Stirs
Emotions
Many formal ceremonies at Campbell University cause
the fluttering of emotions and the sensation of goose bumps to those
present, but perhaps none is so stirring as the “Pinning” ceremony
whereby newly commissioned military officers receive their officer
insignia attached to their uniform by loved ones of their choice.
The pinning takes place immediately after the new officer has been
administered the Oath of Office.
The pinning on ceremony was held this year on May 10,
2004 during Campbell University’s graduation exercises, and the nation’s
most recently commissioned officers received a rousing charge from their
Professor of Military Science, LTC Ted J. Campagna, who is a graduate of
the United States Military Academy.
LTC Campagna, in his inspiring and emotionally stirring
remarks to the eight new officers, recited the words of the creed that
each American soldier is asked to live by:
“I am an American soldier. I am a member of the United
States Army—a protector of the greatest nation on earth. Because I am
proud of the uniform I wear, I will always act in ways creditable to
the Military service and the nation it is sworn to guard.
I am proud of my own organization. I will do all I can
to make it the finest unit in the Army. I will be loyal to those under
whom I serve. I will do my full part to carry out orders and
instructions given to me or my unit.
As a soldier, I realize that I am a member of a
time-honored profession—that I am doing my share to keep alive the
principles of freedom for which my country stands. No matter what the
situation I am in, I will never do anything, for pleasure, profit, or
personal safety, which will disgrace my uniform, my unit, or my country.
I will use every means I have, even beyond the line of duty, to restrain
my Army comrades from actions disgraceful to themselves and to the
uniform.
I am proud of my country and its flag. I will try to
make the people of this nation proud of the service I represent, for I
am an American soldier.”
Campagna congratulated and reminded them that they are
public servants. He asked them to recall the fateful day, 9/11/01, when
the world’s eyes were focused on the World Trade Center in New York and
to remember that as thousands of people descended the stairs, the only
ones going up the stairs were the public servants wearing uniforms.
“All
forms of public service make a great contribution to our society,” said Campagna. “We are indeed fortunate to have young men and women such as
you who are prepared to serve in our nation’s armed forces.”
A total of eight officers have been commissioned out of
the Campbell University ROTC unit this year and four of them were pinned
on May 10.
Those were: Jared Chandler pinned by his wife, Danielle,
and his mother Flora Chandler; Stephen Kirchoff, pinned by his parents
Glenn and Joann Kirchoff; Mischenda Siggal, pinned by her parents, SFC
(Ret) Council and Diane Lambert; and Justin Smith, pinned by his
grandmother, Faye Stewart, his mother, Judy Smith, and his wife,
Shellie.
Another honored tradition which was a part of the
pinning on ceremony was the “silver dollar salute.” The custom, though
exact origination is arguable, probably pre-dates the formation of the
United States Armed Forces, going back to British regiments. Authorized
by Congress on April 2, 1792, the silver dollar traditionally is the
only coin given in exchange for the first salute. Soon-to-be lieutenants
go to great lengths today to secure the “silver” dollar. The coin
represents more than a dollar in currency. To every new officer it
represents the symbolic receipt of respect due the newly earned rank and
position.
The first salutes given to the new second lieutenants
after taking the Oath of Office were given as follows: Jared Chandler by
his father MSG (Ret) John Chandler; Stephen Kirchoff by MSG Parker;
Mischenda Siggal by her father SFC (Ret) Lambert; and, Justin Smith by
SSG ( P) Peterson.
One of the new second lieutenants, Jared Chandler, said,
“I chose Campbell because it was the best ROTC program…and a lot of
people I’ve met from Fort Bragg recognized Campbell as producing good
officers.”
The Campbell Battalion is spread out in the central and
southeastern portion of North Carolina. The Battalion is headquartered
at Campbell University in Buies Creek. Methodist College, Fayetteville
State University, and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke make
up the other higher education components of the battalion. The Campbell
Battalion has won the General Douglas MacArthur Award for the Nation’s
Best Battalion six times since the establishment of the award in 1989.
Fort Bragg serves as a meeting point for the four
schools, and serves as the perfect training area for the battalion
exercises.
Bulletin 0166-
05/26/04 |
