Photo By Sgt. Adrian Muehe | An Iraqi boy makes a splash as service members watch him and other children play in a...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq— Service members assembled on July 31 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, to visit with 102 Iraqi children. The children were greeted with an array of toys, coloring books, snacks and smiles as part of Iraqi Kids Day.
“The most important thing we can do today is to let them know that we are not the enemy,” said Sgt. 1st Class Loretta Battle, the hospital liaison officer with the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and an Atlanta native, who organized this event.
“We want them to smile. We have them playing with games, Play-Doh, hula-hoops and coloring books. You name it; we have it here for them,” said Battle.
The event is held monthly and on this particular day, 120 troops from different units across JBB volunteered to take part and bond with the Iraqi children and communicate a friendship with American forces.
Throughout the course of the program more than 1,000 children have made the journey to JBB for Iraqi Kids Day, said Battle. This is the last event she will volunteer for as she is slated to redeploy next month and return to her civilian job at a women’s shelter.
One of the things that stood out about this particular Iraqi Kids Day was that everyone involved was a volunteer with a desire to brighten the day of children who have lived most, if not all, of their lives in a war zone, constantly exposed to a strong military presence.
“We had 100 percent volunteers, I cannot explain how awesome that is,” said Battle.
Volunteers came from all units and all branches represented on JBB. The service members showed for a variety of reasons, because they love children or wanted to help out the JBB community. Some wanted to make a difference in the eyes of the local populace.
One particular soldier, Master Sgt. Kevin Zavala, a chaplain’s assistant with the 103rd ESC, and a Necedah, Wis., native, chose to volunteer his time because he felt he had a lot of experience to offer.
“I have seven children of my own back home, so I definitely know how to interact with them,” said Zavala, who sponsored two Iraqi siblings. “So far today we played some soccer, shot some baskets, did some coloring, and now they seem preoccupied with my camera.”
The children who came to JBB brought with them a variety of backgrounds. Many were orphans as a direct result of the sectarian violence that has plagued their homeland. Some came from richer families, which created a balance between the experiences they could take back to their homes.
“We have high-maintenance kids as well as low-maintenance kids,” said Battle. “Regardless of their background, we want them to have a good time today.”
After the children were finished with their indoor activities, they were fed lunch and then they headed outside to cool off in a large, inflatable pool set up on a basketball court. Children and service members alike stormed the pool as a splash fight ensued, ensuring that no one around was left with a dry spot on their body.
As the children left JBB to return home, they wore smiles that were a reflection of the fun-filled events of the day.
With August holding the Islamic holiday Ramadan, JBB will schedule the next Iraqi Kids Day for September, and while Battle will no longer be around to organize the event, there are others ready to help ensure one initiative continues. Col. Kenneth Jones, the deputy commander of the 103rd ESC, and a Kansas City, Mo., native, who also works for Hallmark, has a plan up his sleeve that will further bridge the gap between two communities separated by thousands of miles.
“I am planning an event in partnership with my employer that will provide an artistic and creative outlet for these children,” said Jones.
| Date Taken: | 08.07.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 08.07.2010 11:09 |
| Story ID: | 54118 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 264 |
| Downloads: | 149 |
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