DUKE FIELD, Fla. -- For the first time in nearly twenty years, if not ever, the Quiet Professionals of the 919th Special Operations Wing hosted a baptism at the chapel here Dec. 2.
Jillian Mae Farrand, born Sept. 12, 2017, to parents Capt. Julie Farrand, 919th Special Operations Mission Support Group, and Tech. Sgt. Jordan Farrand, a contracting specialist with the Air Force Test Center, was baptized during the 919 SOW’s traditional monthly drill weekend Sunday service.
The Farrands chose the Duke Chapel for their daughter’s baptism because of the strong bond they feel with their 919 SOW family, and because base chapels have played an important role in other major family milestones.
Julie and Jordan Farrand, who first met while deployed to Iraq in 2008, married in 2011 at the base chapel at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts.
“Duke Field is like my family and my home, so to have our baby baptized here is such an honor,” shared Capt. Farrand. “My family can’t be here, but I feel at home here with my Reserve family.”
For 919 SOW Chaplain Lt. Col. Barry Dickson, this was the first baptism he’d seen in his 18 years at the unit.
“It is an honor to have a military family want to have their child baptized at a military chapel, especially at a Reserve base,” said Chaplain Dickson. “It is a pleasure to be part of such a special occasion in one of our member’s lives.”
Baptisms on military bases are rare, but for one to take place on a reserve installation is almost unheard of. It was an honor for the Farrands to choose Duke for this step in their daughter's life. It was also an incredible testament to the camaraderie and fellowship felt among the 919th's Citizen Air Commandos.