Soldiers stand tall at St Patrick's Day events

By Sgt. Luke Rollins, 3rd CAB Public AffairsMarch 29, 2012

St Patrick's Day events
Soldiers from the 3rd CAB, 3rd ID, march past the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist during the 188th Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade, March 17. The Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade is America's largest and is second largest in the world after the... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SAVANNAH, Ga. - It was that time of year again in Savannah: the streets were flooded with green, white and gold and filled to the brim with people from across America and the world celebrating Irish heritage. And, like every year that Savannah stages America's largest St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Third Infantry Division played an integral part.

Events kicked off March 11 in Hilton Head Island, S.C., where Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, marched in the Hilton Head Island St. Patrick's Day Parade. The Third Infantry Division Band lent its Dixieland swing to the formation, and Marne Soldiers lead the formation down Pope Avenue to throngs of celebratory citizens.

In Savannah, festivities began with the Sergeant William Jasper Memorial Ceremony in Madison Square March 16.

The ceremony solemnly inaugurates the St. Patrick's Day festivities, honoring the enlisted men and women in the military by laying a wreath at the foot of the Sergeant William Jasper monument in Madison Square.William Jasper, who was of Irish descent, fought in the Revolutionary War and was renowned for his bravery in battle.

During an attack on Fort Moultrie, S.C., in June 1776, the flag fell in the brunt of heavy British artillery. Jasper recovered the flag and reinstalled it under fire, for which he was awarded a golden sword. He was fatally wounded three years later in the Siege of Savannah.

The 3ID Band was there to play the songs of each branch of military service. Third Infantry Division Command Sgt. Maj. Edd Watson was there to lay the wreath. The band played "Taps," and a 3rd CAB firing party saluted the Fallen.

Command Sgt. Maj. Watson said it was an honor to participate in the ceremony.

"It was important for me [to take part] because I wanted to represent Fort Stewart, Ga., the Soldiers, the Families and everyone in the surrounding community from a military perspective that says 'thank you' to him and those who served prior to us, to make this country as free as it is," Command Sgt. Maj. Watson said.

But after the solemnity of the Sergeant William Jasper Ceremony, the 188th Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade was all fun.

The 3rd ID formation, lead by 3rd CAB commander Col. Allan Pepin, joined 350 different parade participants in the celebration. As the Soldiers marched through downtown Savannah, crowd members broke into the ranks to bedeck the Soldiers with beads and leave bright-red lipstick kisses upon their cheeks.

Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry stood on the corner of Abercorn St. and Liberty St., saluting and shaking hands with Marne Soldiers.

Private First Class Natasha Slater, a logistics specialist with the 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, 3rd CAB, said it was her first time participating in the parade.

"It was amazing, even if it was a bit scary at first," Slater said. "But I felt great coming out here, representing the Army for such a big and important event in the community. I'd definitely do it again -- but only for the Army."