Gen. George W. Casey, Army chief of staff, presents the Legion of Merit to Gen. Enzo Martins Peri during a full honor arrival ceremony at Fort Myer's Conmy Hall Feb. 5.
The Military District of Washington’s ceremonial units were out in force Feb. 5 to welcome Chief of Staff of the Brazilian Army Enzo Martins Peri at Fort Myer’s Conmy Hall. The Continental Color Guard, Commander-in-Chief’s Guard, the U.S. Army Band ‘‘Pershing’s Own” and the Fife and Drum Corps, as well as several other units from The Old Guard were present.
Gen. George W. Casey Jr., Chief of Staff of the Army, hosted an Army full honor arrival ceremony for Peri, and presented him with the Legion of Merit.
The Legion of Merit is awarded by the U.S. armed forces for the performance of outstanding services and achievements. It is one of only six United States decorations to be awarded as a neck order, meaning it hangs from the neck rather than the chest.
Peri was awarded the medal for his policies that supported strong, mutually beneficial ties between the armies of Brazil and America.
The Fife and Drum Corps played as the colors were posted and the official party arrived, greeted by the applause of more than 50 Soldiers who attended. The Presidential Salute Battery was fired off just after the colors were posted.
Peri then took part in the traditional inspection of the troops, saluting as he passed the colors. The Fife and Drum Corps then did a pass-in-review in front of the official party. They broke into ‘‘Yankee Doodle Dandy,” their signature tune as they passed for the second time, and the audience broke out in applause.
The actual awarding of a Legion of Merit was short and sweet, the announcer read a brief bio of Peri, and Casey placed the medal around his neck. The ceremony concluded with the playing of the Brazilian national anthem, the United Stated national anthem and a rousing version of the Army song.
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