FORT RILEY, Kan. -- The change of command ceremony for the 97th Military Police Battalion occurred Oct. 4 at Cavalry Parade Field where Lt. Col. Ann Meredith relinquished command to Lt. Col. Joshua Campbell.
A member of the Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard brought two bouquets of roses as well as other mementos to the families of Meredith and Campbell.
A battalion knife was presented to Meredith's husband, Lt. Col. Jon Meredith, armor branch chief, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky. Her children, William and Molly received MP helmets. Her father also received a battalion knife and her mother received a bouquet of red roses.
The gifts were symbols of the love and respect of the loyal support they have shown for the Soldiers and families of the battalion, the narrator of the ceremony said.
A bouquet of yellow roses was presented to Campbell's wife, Jennifer.
"Yellow is color of joy and friendship and symbolizes the relationship between the battalion Soldiers and the family readiness group," said the narrator of the ceremony.
"Shortly, the rosebuds will blossom as will their relationship with the Soldiers and their families as they grow into a cohesive team."
Jon Meredith and the children presented a basket of carrots to the horses and a bottle of whiskey to the Soldiers of the CGMCG.
The ceremony began with the traditional sounding of cannon fire from "Old Thunder", a replica of the 1764 three-pound light artillery cannon, followed by the arrival of the official party.
As her last commanding act, Meredith passed the battalion flag to Col. Richard Ball, commander, 89th Military Police Brigade.
Campbell received the flag symbolizing his acceptance as commander of the battalion.
Ball talked about the many awards and accolades the 97th MP Bn., has achieved while under the command of Meredith.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Soldiers standing before you and their outgoing commander are some of the best that this nation has to offer," he said.
Campbell first entered active duty as an enlisted counterintelligence agent in 1996. While enlisted, he was a recipient of V Corps Commanding General's Hip-pocket Green to Gold scholarship and was commissioned through Oregon State University's Reserve Officer's Training Corps program in 2001.
His previous assignments include many leadership roles in units across the country and operational deployments around the world.
"Although we are losing an excellent commander, that loss is more easily absorbed when the incoming leader is one such as Lt. Col. Josh Campbell's caliber," Ball said.
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