Service members in Iraq celebrate Easter with sunrise service

[thedrifter]

Service members in Iraq celebrate Easter with sunrise service

4/14/2009 By Cpl. Jo Jones , Multi National Force - West

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq —As the sun rose over the Iraqi horizon on April 12, service members and civilians gathered aboard Al Asad Air Base to celebrate Easter Sunday.
Navy Capt. Olric Wilkins, the command chaplain for Multi National Force - West, gave the sermon at a non-denominational Protestant service at a stadium aboard Al Asad, while Navy Lt. Edward Gorman, the Catholic chaplain for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), celebrated Roman Catholic Mass at the Al Asad airfield.

The services began at 5:30 a.m., and ran concurrently as dawn broke on a cool, cloudy morning. Sgt. Bradley Gann, a forward-looking infrared technician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 26, said it was a beautiful morning to celebrate Easter with other service members.

“Religion is one way to relate to and bond with people out here in Iraq,” said Gann. “It’s good to take a break from work and be able to go to events like these and practice our beliefs.”

At the service officiated by Wilkins, who has served as a Navy chaplain since 1984, the Easter message was one of joy, hope and courage for those deployed to Iraq’s Al Anbar province, and crossed denominational lines.

“In spite of the early time, Air Force 2nd Lt. Josh Hollingsworth said the focus was on the occasion, not the time of day.

“This service is a chance for fellow believers of different denominations to come together to celebrate Easter]” said Hollingsworth, a project engineer with Al Asad’s Facility Engineering Team.

The religious ministry teams of the various units aboard Al Asad organized the sunrise services, and Gann said he appreciated the chaplains and religious programmers who coordinated and participated in the Easter services.

Ellie