After the ceremony, Jon and David posed for a picture in front of the flags.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Jonathan was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, which I understand is given for "heroism, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service." So I made him stand at attention and show it off.
We hung out in the motor pool for a bit so Jon could show off the unit's new toy. In this picture you can only really see the steering wheel and front seats, but it's like a jazzed up version of the jeeps from M.A.S.H. Alex had a fun time sitting in the driver's seat and gripping the steering wheel. None of the rest of us where allowed to touch it while he was at the wheel.
This is the news article the Herald Journal printed today about the deactivation and ceremony:
854th unit puts away its colors
By Megan M. Roe
After more than 2,000 men and women proudly saluted them for the last 38 years, the colors of Logan’s 854th Quartermaster Company were retired Sunday.
“It was so emotional,” said the unit’s final commander, Maj. Kyle Bodily, after he participated in rolling the unit’s flag up for the last time. “Here you are, a leader of a company, and you are walking away.”
Like the flag, the unit will now deactivate, but continue to serve under existing companies. Former and present 854th reservists and their family members gathered to watch as the company’s flag was removed from its post, rolled up, covered and then taken from the room at the Jenkins U.S. Army Reserve Center in North Logan. After the ceremony, retired and current unit leaders reminisced about the good times they had and emphasized their pride in being part of the history of Logan’s Reserve unit.
“I know in some of our hearts it makes absolutely no sense to take one of the best units and do away with it,” retired Capt. Grant White said. “The only thing constant in the military is change.”
The deactivation comes as part of a Reserve restructuring expected to cut operating costs, Bodily said. Units like the 854th — which have platoons specializing in many different fields including maintenance, supply and gas — will split into existing companies that will become specialized in only one concentration.
“When they need a (platoon) that’s specifically a supply unit, they need an entire (company) that’s specifically supply,” Bodily said. “Since this unit is one with different platoons, it has kind of gone the way of the dinosaur.”
Reservists in the 854th unit will divide into three platoons and be added to two existing companies. Two platoons will join the 889th Quartermaster Company — a supply unit — headquartered in Great Falls, Mont. The other platoon will assist the 872nd Maintenance company in Ogden. All three will continue to operate in Logan.
Five-year 854th reservist Spc. Ammon Neff said though he will miss his company, he is ready to get to work in a new one.
“I really like this unit and it’s kind of hard to see it go,” Neff said, “but it’s exciting. I understand why it divided.”
Since its inception in 1968, the 854th Quartermaster Company has trained all over the world. Recently, the unit served during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and was activated for service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Almost 30 troops from the company are currently serving in those conflicts.
A large display of awards and achievements lined two walls of the meeting room in the reserve center — a testament to the type of soldiers who have represented the unit, several speakers at the ceremony said. While many gave credit for the unit’s success to its members, retired Sgt. 1st Class Clair Larkin insisted it was the unit that helped him achieve his goals.
“I love serving my country and this unit gave me that opportunity,” Larkin said. “I am a better person for having served in this unit.”
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