Medic Takes Oath with Charters of Freedom

By Mr. Danny L. Paul FarleyJune 29, 2015

Medic Takes Oath with Charters of Freedom
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Michael Swan, a U.S. Army Medic assigned to Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland reenlists for four more years during a ceremony on June 22, 2015 at the National Archives. Col. Michael Jason, Swan's former battalion c... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Medic Takes Oath with Charters of Freedom
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Michael Swan, a U.S. Army Medic assigned to Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland reenlists for four more years during a ceremony on June 22, 2015 at the National Archives. Col. Michael Jason, Swan's former battalion c... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Medic Takes Oath with Charters of Freedom
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Michael Swan, a U.S. Army Medic assigned to Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland reenlists for four more years during a ceremony on June 22, 2015 at the National Archives. Col. Michael Jason, Swan's former battalion c... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WASHINGTON, DC - Sgt. Michael Swan, a U.S. Army Medic assigned to Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland took the oath of enlistment for four more years during a ceremony on June 22, 2015 at the National Archives.

The ceremony took place in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom in front of the display case containing the U.S. Constitution, the very document that each member of the U.S. Armed Forces swears to protect and defend.

Col. Michael Jason, Swan's former battalion commander, now assigned to the Pentagon, officiated the traditional ceremony. Jason administered the oath under the seemingly watchful eyes of America's Founding Fathers depicted in the awe inspiring historic murals, The Constitution and The Declaration, which grace the curved walls of the Rotunda.

Regarding his choice of locations Swan said "I'm a big history buff, especially when it comes to the foundation and history of our nation. The part of our oath that means the most to me is swearing 'to protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic.' Without the foundation, the basic rights of personal liberties and freedoms, we would not be who we are today. This is

what makes America the nation it is, and exactly why I wanted to serve."

The Rotunda is the permanent home of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. These three documents, known collectively as the Charters of Freedom, have secured the rights of the American people for more than two and a quarter centuries.

"I chose to reenlist in front of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights," Swan said, " because, what better place to swear the oath than in front of the actual documents themselves?"

"This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me and extremely humbling. I had visited twice before, once on an 8th grade field trip, and the second when my brother was on his school trip. Since then, I've gained a much greater appreciation for the purpose these documents served through my deployments, duty stations, the people I've met and the things I've witnessed happening in our country. In high school, I never thought I'd be in the military, let alone allowed an opportunity like this. Standing in that hall and swearing to continue to serve... I will forever be grateful to all those who helped make it happen."