Ministar odbrane Dragan Šutanovac i otpravnica poslova
ameriÄke ambasade Dženifer Braš posetili ameriÄke vojnike koji rade na
obnovi obdaništa i škola u Prokuplju i Sokobanji. Šutanovac ukazao na
znaÄaj vojno-civilne saradnje dve armije i najvio nove aktivnosti na
tom planu.
U
pitanju je zajedniÄki projekat, pod nazivom "Humanitarna asistencija",
u Äijoj realizaciji uÄestvuju pripadnici Nacionalne garde Ohaja i
Vojske Srbije.
Ministar odbrane Dragan Šutanovac i otpravnica poslova
ameriÄke ambasade Dženifer Braš posetili ameriÄke vojnike koji rade na
obnovi obdaništa i škola u Prokuplju i Sokobanji. Šutanovac ukazao na
znaÄaj vojno-civilne saradnje dve armije i najvio nove aktivnosti na
tom planu.
AmeriÄke vojnike koji rade na obnovi obdaništa i škola u Prokuplju i
Sokobanji, posetili su ministar odbrane Dragan Šutanovac i otpravnica
poslova ameriÄke ambasade u Beogradu Dženifer Braš.
U
pitanju je zajedniÄki projekat, pod nazivom "Humanitarna asistencija",
u Äijoj realizaciji uÄestvuju pripadnici Nacionalne garde Ohaja i
Vojske Srbije.
Posle obilaska osnovne škole u selu Trubarevac
kraj Soko Banje, ministar odbrane Dragan Šutanovac je ukazao na znaÄaj
vojno-civilne saradnje pripadnika Vojske Srbije i ameriÄkih vojnika i
najvio nove aktivnosti na tom planu.
"Tokom ove godine imaÄemo još 13 novih aktivnosti, a pravimo i novi plan za 2010. godinu", rekao je Šutanovac.
Ministar
je sa otpravnicom poslova ambasade SAD u Beogradu Dženifer Braš obišao
i obdanište "Neven" u Prokuplju, Äiju rekonstrukciju takoĆ°e zajedno
rade pripadnici Vojske Srbije i Nacionalne garde Ohaja.
Sardanja
Vojske Srbije i Nacionalne garde Ohaja zapoÄeta je septembra 2006.
godine. Tokom protekle tri godine njihovi pripadnici su imali niz
zajedniÄkih aktivnosti.
Soldiers of the 1194th Engineer Company wake up early in the morning,get dressed in their clean but still mortar covered uniforms, and step
out the door. From there they are greeted by a scenic view of the
mountains, a lake, gardens and numerous local townspeople, who
frequently express their gratitude in gifts of food and drinks. For the
1194th, it's just another day on the job.
Soldiers of the 1194th Engineer Company, Airmen of the 200th RED HORSE
(Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers)
and members of the Serbian Armed Forces are scattered across Serbia,
tasked with the renovation of public schools in Soko Banja, Lapavo and
Prokuplje from August until school starts on Sept. 1.
"We're taking off old mortar and putting on new and restoring the
school for the children." said Spc. Raymond Lohr of the 1194th.
The Ohio Army National Guard carpenter with 22 years of service said he
feels at home in Serbia. "They make me feel like family."
The Soldiers tasked with rebuilding the Mitropolit Mihailo primary
school in Soko Banja are not alone in their endeavor to help the
Serbian people. Everyday the locals come to the work site and assist
the Soldiers in repairing the facade and increasing the structural
integrity of the building.
Lohr said a 62-year-old mason they call "Dragon" comes to the work site
and teaches others how to lay mortar. "The whole village has helped
us," he said.
But no more than five meters from the school in repair, the local
children gather daily on the basketball court to play and interact with
the Soldiers.
Spc. Theodore Venable of the 1194th said the unit's reception by the
Serbian people was warm and welcoming. "Many people offer to take time
out of their day to show us around," he said.
Soko Banja Mayor Dimitrije Lukicc wanted to show his appreciation to
the Soldiers by providing them the opportunity to meet the children
they were helping. With parents, teachers and an assortment of invited
media, the children who will be attending the school in September
greeted both the American Soldiers and Serbian Soldiers with smiles and
drawings they had made as thank you cards.
"They are very humble and family-oriented, they even love taking care
of those they don't know," Venable said of the Serbian people.
"It's all about breaking down walls," said Dejan Nikolic, a member of
the Serbian National Parliament. "It's a good picture when you see our
Soldiers and your Soldiers working together."
In an effort to help foster the relationship between Serbia and the
United States, Nikolic invited the Soldiers of the 1194th working in
Soko Banja to play in a basketball tournament during their August in
August celebration.
The celebration is a monthlong tournament of tennis, soccer, basketball
and volleyball, with over 500 participants in each sport and thousands
of spectators throughout the tournament. The 10-year-old tradition is
rooted in a political parody, sponsored by the democratic party, local
municipality and private sponsors who bring teams together to play as
well as arrange for DJs to play music and host, and referees to
officiate games.
Among this wild and bustling community, a few American Soldiers clad in
U.S. Army physical training uniforms and a Serbian Soldier played the
opening basketball game of the tournament. Though the American and
Serbian Soldiers lost the game to a local team, they have won the
hearts of the community.
"We are grateful and hopeful we can continue breaking down the walls." Nikolic said.
