Text and photo: Major Michael Christiansen, SPAO DATG

Former he has been sent out with both navy and army units in international operations.

The helicopter hangar gave a solemn  frame for the service at sea

In his job as the navy chaplain of Danish Task Group, he held the service on board the command ship THETIS Sunday afternoon.

The Danish flag was hanging beautifully and formed the altarpiece. A table decorated with a dark cloth functioned as altar, while to lit candles and wooden cross were placed on the table.

Around 25 staff and crewmembers took the invitation from Henning Nielsen and participated in the service.

Able rating Steffen Bartel proclaimed  the introit.

Able rating Steffen Bartel read the introit, before the voices opened up with the hymn “Se nu stiger solen af havets skød”. Everybody took part in the confession before Henning Nielsen read the text of the day and held his sermon.

“Op al den ting, som Gud har gjort” sounded beautifully in the hangar before the participants together said the Lord’s Prayer and received the blessing.

Commodore Palle Cortes presented  Henning Nielsen with the UNIFIL medal

An Untraditional ending
After the traditional ending of the service, where everybody proclaimed “God safe the Queen”, a more untraditional séance followed.

Commander Danish Task Group, commodore Palle Cortes, presented the UNIFIL medal to the navy chaplain.

The chaplain received the medal for his participation in UNIFIL from 2nd October 2006 till 12th January 2007.

Navy chaplain with his UNIFIL medal.

Henning Nielsen was not able to be at the homecoming parade in Korsør 31st August, so he received the medal today.

The navy chaplain has earlier been awarded the UN medal and has two times received the Danish Defence Medal. He was awarded these for his deployment with the navy to Kuwait and with the army to Afghanistan.