Fort Huachuca, Arizona -- Nine Army noncommissioned officers along with Family, friends and other military personnel shared a day of celebration honoring their collective 198 years of military service and bidding the Soldiers goodbye during the Quarterly Installation Retirement Ceremony on Brown Parade Field Jan. 22.
U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) hosted the event which featured guest speaker Col. Thomas A. Boone, garrison commander, and Sgt. Maj. Lavander R. Wilkerson, Directorate of Emergency Services, assisting Boone with the awards presentation.
Following opening remarks and the national anthem played by the Military Intelligence Corps Band and the invocation by Installation Chaplain Col. Kim M. Norwood, the narrator shared the history of Brown Parade Field, individually introduced each retiree. Each retiree received a certification of appreciation signed by the president, a certificate of retirement and a retirement flag. Each spouse also received a certificate of appreciation for support of his or her Soldier and a bouquet of flowers or token of appreciation.
Sgt. 1st Class Antwone D. Copeland retired after 24 years of Army service. He was last assigned as brigade senior human resources sergeant, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 111th Military Intelligence (MI) Brigade. He received a Meritorious Service Medal for his service. He, his wife, Marie, and daughter, Antwonia, plan to reside in Killeen, Texas.
Sgt. 1st Class Chris J. DeVoss left the Army after 23 years of service. His final assignment was as the battalion operations NCO for the 2-13th Aviation Regiment. He was presented with a Meritorious Service Medal during the ceremony. DeVoss and his wife, Blythe, have two children Bryce and Ethan. The Family will live in Sierra Vista.
Sgt. 1st Class Perry W. Franklin ended 20 years of service as a cyber exercise planner for the Assistant Chief of Staff G-3/5/7 Training and Exercises Branch, Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM) and was presented a Meritorious Service Medal. He, his wife, Lisa, and children Josiah, Christopher and Kailey will live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Sgt. 1st Class Marcos A. Genao departed the Army after 21 years of service, ending his career as a senior instructor/writer for the 35M-10 Human Intelligence (HUMINT) collectors course, Bravo Company, 309th MI Battalion, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence (USAICoE). He was presented with a Meritorious Service Medal. He and children Keitlina, Kiara and Kyenna will make their home in Spring Lake, North Carolina.
Sgt. 1st Class Scott A. Mac Farlane ended his Army career after 30 years of service. His final assignment was as a platoon sergeant for the 41st Engineer Battalion, Charlie Company, 2 Brigade Combat Team, Fort Drum, New York. He was presented a Meritorious Service Medal. He, his wife, Jessica, and children Aydan and Zane will live in Bisbee.
Sgt. 1st Class David L. McCaskill finished his 24-year Army career as the S2 for Alpha Company, 305th MI Bn., 111th MI Bde., USAICoE. He was presented with a Meritorious Service Medal. He and his wife, Latoya, and their five children Jessica, David, Kieara, Jacquise and Marquail will reside in Montgomery, Alabama.
Sgt. 1st Class James J. Mooney ended 20 years of service to the U.S. Army as a senior instructor/writer for the 35M-10 HUMINT collectors course, Bravo Company, 309th MI Bn., USAICoE, and received a Meritorious Service Medal. He, his wife, Maricel, and children Patrick and Christine plan to live in Sierra Vista.
Sgt. 1st Class Christopher J. Vedvick ended 16 years of Army service as a senior human intelligence collection sergeant for Headquarters and Headquarters Company. His final award was the Meritorious Service Medal. He and his wife, Tiffany, and their three children Lorelai, Evelyn and Archer will take up residence in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
Staff Sgt. Yolanda N. Wright completed 20 years of service between the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army. Her final assignment was as the senior supply NCO for the 18th Military Police Detachment, Directorate of Emergency Services, USAG. She was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal. She and her husband, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Naamon Wright, will live in Sierra Vista.
After formal recognition of retirees and their spouses, Boone charged the retirees with a new mission, that of being a Soldier for Life. He also shared an anecdote about each retiree and encouraged them to share their military experiences to inspire others.
"Your years of active service were just the beginning. As you begin this new phase of your service as a Soldier for Life, you will share your Army story and inspire future generations of Soldiers to write theirs. You will place the mission first and strengthen our businesses, communities and nation. You will continue to exude the Warrior Ethos and be sought out as leaders and mentors," Boone said.
At the end of the ceremony, the MI Corps Band played "Old Soldiers Never Die" and "Auld Lang Syne" and the audience sang "The Army Song." Finally, members of B Troop, 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment (Memorial), honored the retirees with a traditional cavalry charge across Brown Parade Field.
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