FORT SILL, Okla. -- Fort Sill Soldiers used firepower to get everyone in the holiday spirit for the tree lighting ceremony Dec. 2 in front of McNair Hall.
It was a collaborative effort with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Field Artillery, the Field Artillery Half-Section, the 77th Army Band, Corvias Military Living and post leaders.
"It's really an opportunity to get families together and have a little bit of fun," said Maj. Gen. John Rossi, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general. "For the last 13 years, and even today, there's a lot of Soldiers, many of us who have missed the holidays numerous times during this period. So, the fact that they're able to be here we want to make it a big event for them,"
Corvias Military Living employees, along with little helpers, performed "Night Before Christmas" and sang "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."
They were followed by an explosive performance by 2-2nd FA Soldiers who sang the 12 Days of Field Artillery Christmas.
"On the twelfth day of Christmas Big Deuce gave to me: 12 safety T's, 11 tent stakes, 10 fuse wrenches, nine M2 compasses, eight aiming poles, seven MREs, six safety stakes, five TNTs, four gunner squadrons, three guideons flying, two mascots grazing and a shot for the field artillery."
Then the half section pulled onto the lawn with Santa in tow. The man in red spoke with Rossi before a drumroll, quad .50-cal. machine gunfire and a salute gun blast signalled for Col. Glenn Waters, Fort Sill Garrison commander and Command Sgt. Maj. David Carr, Garrison CSM, to flip a switch and light the tree.
Afterward, attendees were treated to hot chocolate, cookies and candy canes as well as photo opportunites with Santa Claus inside a warm tent.
For more photos from the ceremony, visit www.flickr.com/fortsillcannoneer.
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