Photo By Senior Airman Clayton Murray | U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Frank G. Helmick, commanding general, Multi-National Security...... read more read more
BAGHDAD — A Soldier born July 4 joined a three-star general to lead the men and women of the Multi-National Security Transition Command — Iraq in wishing America a happy birthday during an Independence Day celebration here.
U.S. Army Sgt. Dimitri Barnes, MNSTC-I operations, born July 4, 1983, accepted the invitation from U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Frank G. Helmick, MNSTC-I commanding general. This was the 26th birthday for Barnes and the 233rd for the United States of America.
Helmick opened the ceremony by addressing the troops in the Phoenix Base dining facility, which was decorated with the red, white and blue colors of the U.S. flag for the occasion.
"The freedom our country has is a gift," Helmick said. "Not all countries know how that feels. With Iraq's new national holiday, Sovereignty Day, June 30, Iraqis can now know how freedom feels, as Americans do."
"[Given the nature of our mission], we celebrate the 4th of July here like any other day," he said. "In the United States, they celebrate in New York watching a baseball game. Five hundred thousand people gather on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to enjoy fireworks. Across the country, people barbeque in their backyards. But wherever you are and whatever you do, July 4 is a great day to be an American."
The celebration began with a cake-cutting ceremony to mark the 233rd birthday and finished with an American-style barbeque for the troops that provided a touch of home.
The Independence Day Prayer Breakfast was held July 5. Chaplain Stan Fornea, deputy command chaplain for operations for Multi-National Force - Iraq, brought forth a moving story of a fallen hero and what America meant to him. Prayers, scriptures and patriotic songs followed, such as "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" and "America the Beautiful." U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Patricia D. Ruth rendered a moving version of The national anthem.
| Date Taken: | 07.07.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 07.07.2009 01:46 |
| Story ID: | 36049 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 408 |
| Downloads: | 304 |
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