Trainees from across the installation celebrated the Easter holiday by attending the Easter Sunrise Service on Hilton Field.

Team Jackson and trainees from across the training battalions came

to Hilton Field before dawn to celebrate the Easter holiday by attending the

Easter Sunrise Service.

Chaplain (Col.) Matthew Kreider, Office of the Chief of Chaplains Religious Support Operations Center, delivered the day’s message during the Fort Jackson Easter Sunrise Service April 17, 2022, at Hilton Field. He recounted the Easter story of resurrection of the son of God and talked about faith during a time where physical proof means truth. Hundreds gathered during the service to hear the guest speaker’s message.

Before the sun rose on Easter Sunday, hundreds of Team Jackson members and trainees from across the installation began filling the bleachers on Hilton Field to celebrate the Easter holiday.

“Welcome to the Easter Sunrise Service,” said Chaplain (Col.) Joey Byrd, Mission Command Chaplain. “We are glad you are here.”

The service began with a musical ensemble presented by the Daniel Circle Chapel Praise Team. They lead the congregation in the songs Here I am to Worship and You Are Good.

Shortly after, Chaplain (Capt.) Loy Sweezy, 120th Adjutant Battalion Battalion (Reception), read from the Book of John.

“Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw the stone had been taken away from the tomb,” Sweezy read aloud. “Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus’s had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.”

The scripture Sweezy read represented the reason why the service was held before the break of dawn.

As the sun finally began peaking above the tree lined field, Chaplain (Col.) Matthew Kreider, Office of the Chief of Chaplains Religious Support Operations Center, took the podium to deliver the day’s message.

“The disciples came to prepare Jesus’s body for burial,” Kreider said. “But he wasn’t there. They didn’t get to do the job that they came to do because the Lord had been raised from the dead. Even though he (Jesus) had told them that he would be handed over to evil men and crucified, but on the third day he would be raised again unto life.”