Photo By 2nd Lt. Linsey Williams | Minnesota National Guardsmen and their Norwegian Home Guard counterparts share a steak...... read more read more
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CAMP VAERNES, Norway - Since 2004, the volunteers of the Serving Our Troops organization, based out of St. Paul, Minn., have traveled to military bases around the country and across the globe serving home cooked meals to Minnesota National Guard troops.
To continue their tradition of feeding the troops wherever they may be, the group ventured to Camp Vaernes, Norway, where they served a meal commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Norwegian Exchange (NOREX).
For one evening, the Serving Our Troops team commandeered the kitchen of the Camp Vaernes dining facility so they could make their world-renown steaks. During that night, both Minnesotan and Norwegian troops alike gathered together for what they called "The American Meal.”
“This is the first time I’m actually doing the big meal here,” said one Serving Our Troops member John Marshall. “It’s pretty incredible. You watch the camaraderie. You watch the international relations being built. Folks are having fun, they’re exchanging cultures - it’s a pretty neat event.”
The event was attended by a who’s who of leadership in the Minnesota National Guard as well as the Norwegian Home Guard.
From Minnesota, the Army National Guard chief of staff, Col. John Kolb, as well as the Air National Guard vice chief of staff, Col. Lauren Hubert, sat with their Norwegian counterparts whom they’d been working with throughout the Exchange. The officer in charge of the 34th Infantry Division, Col. Dirk Kloss, was also in attendance.
As masters of ceremonies, the NOREX OIC, Maj. Troy Fink, worked jointly with his counterpart, Maj. Gard Ommedal in ensuring that everyone in attendance of the American meal was treated to a great meal, with a great atmosphere in which to enjoy it.
“The people are so kind and welcoming,” Marshall continued. “They’re very Minnesotan, if you will. It’s a great exchange.”
By the end of the evening, when everyone was fed and leaving the dining facility, the consensus was the same. It is a great exchange.
| Date Taken: | 02.22.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 02.22.2013 21:06 |
| Story ID: | 102430 |
| Location: | CAMP VAERNES, AKERSHUS, NO |
| Web Views: | 222 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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