US Marines Honor Patron Saint of Artillery
The Quartermasters have Saint Martin, but Marine artillery has Saint Barbara, whom they honored in a ceremony in Afghanistan:
Marines…smiled as all in attendance lifted their cups in a toast to honor the patron saint of artillery, Saint Barbara.
According to legend, the tyrant Dioscorus, a pagan, kept his daughter Barbara secluded in a tower to shelter her from the world. In her solitude she gave herself to prayer and became a Christian. Her father, infuriated by her conversion…eventually acted as her executioner for her beheading. As punishment for her death, God struck Dioscorus with lightning and consumed him in flame.
Due to her connection with lightning, Barbara is often called upon to protect against thunder, lightning or accidents involving explosions or gunpowder.
As to the ceremony itself, it seems to bear a resemblance to some fighter pilot events:
The celebration consisted of skits representing artillery life and the presentation of the artillery punch, a mixture of different beverages, to the guest of honor, Maj. Gen. Glenn Walters, the commanding officer…
By “a mixture of different beverages” they appear to mean a grog. One of the accompanying photos shows a warrant officer pouring Gatorade into a large bowl.
It appears the veneration of the patron saint of explosions might be international. According to the ever-reliable Wikipedia, Saint Barbara is celebrated by dozens of Western military artillery and ordnance units.