First Lt. Homer J. Wright took command of the 1230th Transportation Company of the Georgia National Guard on Sunday.

The change of command ceremony includes a transfer of colors during the ceremony signifying the relinquishment of command by the outgoing commander—who was Capt. Michael F. Bryant.

The acceptance of the colors by incoming commander Wright confirms his total commitment to the men and women he now serves, which was explained during the ceremony on Sunday at the Georgia National Guard Armory on Louise Street.

This transfer of colors is symbolized by the small flag with the “1230th” embroidered on it.

During Sunday’s ceremony, members of the 1230th gave a dozen red roses to Wright’s mother, Mary Wright, and to Chandra Tanya Nichols Bryant, the wife of Capt. Bryant.

Bryant moves up as a transportation officer with the 265th, which is the regional support group for the 1230th.

The Bainbridge armory has always been home to the 1230th. Last year, the armory in Thomasville, which was home to the 1148th, was transferred out and now the 1230th has control of the Thomasville armory as well, Bryant said.

The role of the company

A resident of Damascus, Ga., Wright works at the Bainbridge Propex plant, which he credited for helping him achieve this goal. Several of his Propex colleagues and some of his family were in attendance Sunday.

Wright opened his speech with a moment of silence paying homage to three Georgia National Guard members who were killed last Thursday in Afghanistan—Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette, 37, of Lula, Ga.; Staff Sgt. John C. Beale, 39, of Riverdale, Ga., and Spec. Jeffrey W. Jordan, 21, of Rome, Ga.

Citing the importance of logistics to this transportation company members, Wright said, “This transportation company is a link in the logistical supply-chain that keeps the Guard rolling—we all have to be mission-focused, capable and ready.”

He said he was reminded of that with the 195,700 Allied naval and merchant marine personnel who were the behind-the-scene forces during the D-Day invasion 65 years ago. More than 160,000 troops actually landed on the beaches of Normandy during World War II.

Wright began his military career in 2002 as an enlisted serviceman with the U.S. Army. In 2004, Wright completed officer candidacy school with the Georgia Army National Guard in 2004.