First Team welcomes new division chaplain

By Sgt. Angel TurnerMay 30, 2014

First Team welcomes new division chaplain
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Michael Bills (center) commanding general, 1st Cavalry Division, prepares to remove the stole from around Lt. Col. Addison Burgess (left) and place it around Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Hysom, during a Change of Stole Ceremony at the 1st Cavalry D... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
First Team welcomes new division chaplain
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Michael Bills places the stole around Chap. (Lt. Col.) Dennis Hysom's neck during a Change of Stole Ceremony at the 1st Cavalry Division Memorial Chapel at Fort Hood May 21. The stole symbolizes the ministerial responsibility of the chapla... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas -Soldiers, family and friends gathered at the 1st Cavalry Division Memorial Chapel here to witness the 1st Cavalry Division welcome its new division chaplain during a Change of Stole Ceremony May 21.

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Dennis Hysom, of New Orleans, the incoming chaplain, took the reins as division chaplain from Lt. Col. Addison Burgess, a chaplain.

Hysom comes to the division following his role as the Chief of Concepts and Doctrine at the U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School at Fort Jackson.

"I'm looking forward to serving here the next two years," Hysom said. "We'll take all our capabilities, work together, and do great things."

Brig. Gen. Michael Bills, commanding general, 1st Cav. Div., said it was an honor to be able to preside over the ceremony.

"Chaplain Burgess has been a tremendous asset to the First Team," Bills said, "and Chaplain Hysom will no doubt continue the important work being done by our unit ministry teams across the 1st Cavalry Division."

During the ceremony, Bills removed the stole from Burgess and placed the symbolic cloth on Hysom to signify the change of responsibility. The stole signifies a chaplain's role as a spiritual leader, servant and God's representative among the people.

In the upcoming months, Hysom will join other "First Team" Headquarters Troopers deploying to Afghanistan as they embark on writing another chapter into the unit's history book.

"I know that Chaplain Hysom will continue to provide invaluable guidance and counsel as we undertake an important historical mission in Afghanistan," Bills said.

As Hysom gets settled in to the 1st Cav. Div. Family, Burgess, who completed two years with the division, will head to the Pentagon to serve in the Office of the Chief of Chaplains.

"I was called to come here and be the division chaplain of one of the greatest divisions in the world," Burgess said. "I thank God for the opportunity, and I count it as a blessing."