Gen Stephen Twitty, commanding General of the US Army’s 1st Armored Division, recently participated in a ceremony marking the “passing of the stole” from one Chaplain to another:

The 1st Armored Division sent off Lt. Col. Karen L. Meeker, outgoing 1st Armored Division chaplain and welcomed Lt. Col. Thomas S. Helms III as the new 1st AD chaplain during the Division’s Passing of the Stole ceremony here…

Helms assumed the spiritual leadership and pastoral care for the entire division when Maj. Gen. Stephen M. Twitty, 1st AD and Fort Bliss commanding general, removed the division stole from Meeker and placed it on Helms shoulders.

The 1AD is known as “Old Ironsides,” so its chaplain is the “Iron Shepherd.”

Chaplain Helms looked to ensure every Soldiers’ ability religious freedom:

He also emphasized that if Soldiers are in combat and they need to worship, he will ensure that they have the opportunity to worship. Helms guaranteed that a chaplain will be available for every Soldier in need.

and he took an interesting approach to doing so:

[Chaplain] Helms will open his doors with the 1st Amendment nailed to it.

Well played.

ADVERTISEMENT