MyMilitaryMedals.com Blog
The Saint Barbara Military Award
January 27th 2012 - 12:43 pm
The Saint Barbara military award is given on behalf of the United States Field Artillery. With this military honor, one becomes a part of the honorary military society of the United States Field Artillery. This military order is bestowed upon service members in both the United States Marines and Army field artillerymen, as well as others in the civilian world who have supported their efforts. This military award is presented by the United States Field Artillery Association. There are two levels of recognition that exist. The highest ranking honor of the Saint Barbara Order is the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara. Those recognized with this military achievement have served long-term, distinguished service to the field artillery community surpassing fellow comrades receiving the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. This military honor ties field artillerymen of history with those forging into the future in a family marked by selflessness to country, professionalism in their trade, and the same sacrifice symbolized by Saint Barbara.
As the legend goes, Saint Barbara was the extremely beautiful daughter of a wealthy man in Asia Minor. Afraid her relentless beauty would make her a token for marriage, her jealous father ordered her to a tower in which her would be shut away and protected from the outside world. Before he was scheduled to depart on a long journey, he ordered a beautiful bath house to be built for his daughter. Barbara had become well versed in Christ and understanding in his teachings. She ordered the builders of the bathhouse to have three windows in order to represent the Holy Trinity.
When her father returned from his journey, he was infuriated with Barbara practicing Christianity. He took her before the head of the province who proceeded to condemn her to be tortured and put to death. Her father beheaded her himself. On his way home from ending his own beautiful daughter’s life, he was struck by lightning and killed. The legend of the lightning bolt who struck down her perpetrator caused her to reign as the patron saint in time of danger from such disasters including thunderstorms, fire, and sudden death. When gunpowder made its way into the world, Saint Barbara was called upon to protect believers from accidents resulting from explosions since oftentimes early artillery equipment blew up instead of firing its projectile. Thus, Saint Barbara became the patroness of the artillerymen.
Military Life
January 27th 2012 - 12:34 pm
It’s Sunday morning. I awake when I feel like it and lay there a few minutes orientating myself to being awake. My husband, an active duty Army soldier, is long gone. As a platoon sergeant, he had his whole platoon meet him at Home Depot and follow him to the head of a trail. They are all instructed to bring a backpack full of whatever in order to resemble their rucksacks. They are preparing to deploy and thus, they have no days off. Likewise, this coming week I know my husband will not make it home until way into the night because they are qualifying their weapons in the dark. I understand, I want my husband to be accustomed to shooting in the dark. I am just thankful it is this week and not the week of Valentines’ Day. Unlike any other job, most employees would complain and pitch a fit if they were required to show up on their day off, nonetheless, show up and hike up a mountain with a heavy backpack. Or if they were required to stay at work from 5am until 10pm for no extra pay or appreciation. Yet, these men all willingly will be there, back packs in place. They understand the importance of preparation and the importance of being a team.
Today’s soldiers are incredible people. These men and women are truly dedicated to their profession and we should be so thankful they are. These people do not do what they do for a military medal, or in order to pin an extra Army ribbon on their uniform. They do what they do so you can experience freedom; saying what you want, going where you please, being whoever you want to be. The dedication our troops put in is more than most civilians will ever understand. Being a military soldier is so much more than a 9-5 job, it is a lifestyle.
