Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Patricia Elkins | Capt. Eilis Cancel, commanding officer at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, welcomed the...... read more read more
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CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti (Sep. 14, 2024) - Capt. Eilis Cancel, commanding officer at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, welcomed the Sous-Préfet de Damerjog, Abdi Hassan Ahmed and his guests from the village of Damerjog for a visit to Camp Lemonnier’s Islamic cemetery.
Camp Lemonnier leadership and Muslim military members from the United States and France also attended the ceremony.
The burial ground on Camp Lemonnier dates back to the early 20th century and holds significance for local descendants of those buried there. Every year, Camp Lemonnier invites members of the local community and their Imam to visit the burial site and asks Muslim U.S. and French military members to join them in prayer.
The yearly visit is one of several community events that reinforces the camaraderie and friendship between Djiboutian community members and U.S. military members, who are neighbors and part of a community.
"We wish to celebrate the strong faith and history of our host nation, as well as those gathered around us,” said Cancel, who attended the ceremony. "We have learned so much from our relationships with the people of Djibouti and are grateful for your partnership.”
For nearly 22 years, the U.S. has fostered a positive relationship with Djibouti, built on trust and respect. U.S service members have protected and preserved the cemetery as a cultural landmark since the expansion of Camp Lemonnier in 2007.
Access to the cemetery is restricted by a rope fence to protect the site from pedestrian and vehicular traffic. In 2011, U.S. service members constructed a monument to identify the site as a cemetery, ensuring its long-term preservation.
“This annual event emphasizes the command’s consideration of all service members,” said Logistics Specialist 1st Class Amara Donzo. “It was inclusive; the French Muslims, Djiboutian Muslims and U.S. Muslim military members came together, emphasizing that we are one team.”
After the cemetery visit, all the visitors gathered with Camp Lemonnier leaders for refreshments at a social reception.
Camp Lemonnier is an operational installation that enables U.S., allied and partner nation forces to be where they are needed to ensure security and protect U.S. interests. The installation provides world-class support for service members, transient U.S. assets and 36 local tenant commands. (U.S. Navy story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maurice Brown)
| Date Taken: | 09.14.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 09.23.2024 06:35 |
| Story ID: | 481485 |
| Location: | DJ |
| Web Views: | 109 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Damerjog Sous-Préfet and Guests Join Camp Lemonnier Service Members for Islamic Cemetery Visit, by PO2 Maurice Brown, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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