CAMP CASEY, South Korea - After 40 days of hard work, the 210th Field Artillery Brigade cut the ribbon on its new spiritual resiliency center during a ceremony Sept. 23 on Camp Casey.
Housed in the completely renovated Stone Chapel, the Thunder Spiritual Resiliency Center provides brigade Soldiers a relaxed environment to nurture their spiritual well being.
The chapel, erected in memory of Chaplain (Capt.) Wendell Forrest Byrd, formerly served Camp Casey as a house of worship and a gathering point for ceremonies and general fellowship.
Over the years, however, the building began to age in comparison to other chapels at Camp Casey.
The 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division, in conjunction with the Korean Service Corps, was instrumental in leading the building's renovation efforts.
"It's challenging at times to remember the importance of nurturing our spiritual and emotional sides," says Cpl. Melissa A. Czarnogursky, the battalion's chaplain assistant and an East Rutherford, New Jersey native who played a key role in the restoration project. "The high operational tempos and time away from loved ones can accumulate to added stresses and anxieties, making us less effective in executing daily tasks."
When the battalion arrived to Camp Casey in May, unit leaders knew one of the greatest challenges they'd encounter was maintaining a strong and resilient spirit during their nine months away from home.
With that in mind, battalion leadership coordinated with Chaplain Hyung Choi to establish a comfortable environment where Soldiers could build resiliency and esprit de corps. The Stone Chapel proved to be an ideal opportunity to for such an institution.
"We wanted a place where Soldiers could come to rest, relax, and lay down their burdens with a common ground based in Faith," said Choi, the battalion chaplain and a Harker Heights, Texas native.
Soldiers have already taken the initiative and created a "Praise and Worship" team using the chapel's newly purchased musical equipment. Additionally, several themed nights like country music, rock and movie nights are also in the works.
"I know this resiliency center will prove extremely beneficial to this Brigade and its warfighters," said Czarnogursky.
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