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On February 5, 2016, family, friends and colleagues of nine U.S.
Army Soldiers came together at historic Palm Circle, Fort Shafter,
Hawaii, for a ceremonial expression of appreciation and gratitude
for their combined 223 years of federal service to the U.S. Army,
the U.S. Army Pacific and the nation.
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Honorees and their families after the sixth quarterly Celebration of Service ceremony held at historic Palm Circle, Fort Shafter, Hawaii, Feb. 5,
2016. The USARPAC Celebration of Service ceremony brought together family, friends and colleagues of the honorees as they came together for a ceremonial expression of appreciation and gratitude for all the honorees have done for U.S. Army Pacific, for the U.S. Army and for their nation. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Chris McCullough, U.S. Army Pacific Public Affairs)
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"At USARPAC, we call it a Celebration of Service, because
that's what we're here to do," said USARPAC's assistant
chief of staff of operations, Brig. Gen. Bryan P. Fenton,
who officiated the ceremony, "and that's to celebrate the
service of nine experienced leaders - our 'One Team'
teammates - who will transition from active duty to the
honorable list of retired."
The nine retirees
honored were Lt. Col. Johnny Davis, Kapolei, Hawaii; Lt.
Col. Craig Jones, Honolulu; Maj. Robert Braughton, Portland,
Oregon; Maj. Kenneth Gettinger, O'Fallon, Illinois; Capt.
Megan Fowler, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Chief Warrant
Officer 4 Tamara DeGrafenread, Waipahu, Hawaii; Chief
Warrant Officer 4 Fernando Medina, Puerto Rico; Sgt. Maj.
Lloyd Gallimore, Hawaii; Sgt. 1st Class Bobby Arnold, Harker
Heights, Texas.
USARPAC's Celebration of Service
ceremony recognizes Soldiers for their distinguished service
to U.S. Army Pacific and the U.S. as they prepare to
transition into new careers. This was the seventh such
celebration held with the intent of honoring retiring
service members quarterly.
Over the course of the
celebration, Fenton spoke to the audience about how these
noteworthy Soldier's careers have impacted USARPAC. He also
addressed how their devotion made the Army better, and
personally thanked each of the honorees for the sacrifices
they and their families have made.
"Congratulations
again to all of the honorees on achieving this milestone of
military retirement," Fenton said in closing. "A very
special thanks to your families and to the supporting cast
of these stars for all their decades of service as well. May
God bless each of you in the next chapters of your story,
and know that you always have a home this Ohana in the
Pacific."
By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Chris McCullough
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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