Odenton Man Announced as New Commander at Fort Meade

Lt. Col. Ed Barrett woke up around 3 a.m. Friday morning with flu-like symptoms. Not the start he said he was looking for on the day he would be officially announced as Fort Meade’s new Commander of the Headquarters Command Battalion.

Barrett hoped the adrenaline from the day would carry him through his speech during the ceremony, but admitted he was feeling less than great.

Before the start of the ceremony that would see Lt. Col. Thomas Boone relinquish command of the battalion to Barrett, the two men greeted colleagues and friends in the morning sun.

The resonating tone of the 257th Army National Guard Band unofficially kicked-off the event, a celebration of Boone’s leadership and Barrett’s arrival.

Soldiers of the Army and Marine Corps addressed Boone, Barrett and Installation Commander Col. Daniel Thomas in a formal display of respect, standing at attention and parade rest throughout the various speeches.

“Let’s pause in this moment and think about the men, unit and Army [the event] represents,” Thomas said. “It’s a celebration of what is right in the Army and its ranks.”

While addressing the servicemen, Thomas said the Headquarters Command Battalion works to uphold soldier readiness, law enforcement and other base operations essential to Fort Meade.

Thomas said Barrett was stepping into a role that would make him a “utility infielder and go-to receiver” for the necessary missions on base. “These are missions that touch thousands of soldiers’ lives every day,” Thomas said.

After some addition words from Thomas and the former Commander, Boone, Barrett approached the microphone.

Exhausted by the heat, Barrett made a quick stop to his wife’s chair to grab a bottle of water before addressing those in attendance, obviously still feeling the effects of those flu-like symptoms. Unlike some of the troops who fainted from the heat, Barrett made it through his speech without a glitch, minus a noisy helicopter flyover.

“You couldn’t see it but I was covered in sweat. It’s smoking out there,” Barrett said.

As Barrett spoke, friends from his past and present sat and listened like portraits on a living room mantle. Each with their own story, looking on proudly.

A member of 257th Army National Guard Band, Cpl. Laura Brecheen, said she was especially proud to perform at Barrett’s special day since he previously coached her two sons on the soccer field with the Anne Arundel Soccer Association.

“It was a thrill and such an honor to be here,” Brecheen said. “To share the Army experience, it’s hard to describe.”

Brecheen didn’t join the military until she was 40, but said that Barrett’s qualities as a coach would go a long way as a commander too.

“He’s patient and very outgoing,” she said.

As the new commander concluded his speech, Barrett was visibly emotional when he thanked his new wife, Kristin, whom he married just one month ago.

“Things were not very good, things were pretty bad a couple years ago, and everything’s great now,” said the commander as his two sons hugged him.

After the ceremony, the Odenton resident was swarmed with affection, ranging from old friends to young soccer stars. 

Embracing his two sons, Connor and Nicholas, Barrett looked on with tears still in his eyes and said, “Today was a dream come true.”