145th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Story by Spc. Daniel Nelson

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, MOSUL, Iraq- Brig. Gen. Thomas Vandal, deputy commanding general (support), Multi-National Division-North, welcomed key leaders from both the Iraqi army and the Kurdish Peshmerga forces from Mosul for a Veterans Day celebration, at Forward Operating Base Marez, Mosul, Nov. 11.

In attendance was Brig. Gen. Nassir Ahmad, 2nd Iraqi Army Division commander, along with fellow Iraqi army leaders from throughout Ninewa province. There representing the Peshmerga was Maj. Gen. Delshad, of the Kurdish Peshmerga force, accompanied by his senior leaders from Iraq's northern Kurdish region.

Arab and Kurdish military leaders were able to come together in respect for all Veterans as well as celebrate their own service.

The ceremony took place at the Derby landing zone here, which is a memorial to honor Lt. Col. Garnet Derby, and his personal security detail, who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom, February of this year. Additionally, the service was held on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month U.S. Eastern Standard Time, which recognizes the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I in 1918. At the same moment, people all across America were taking time to pay tribute to all the veterans, living and dead, for their service to their country.

"To all of the veterans here, to those we fight alongside each day, and to the Veterans of every war on whose legacy we proudly uphold – the living, the missing, the departed – our nations have the deepest gratitude for their service and for their sacrifice," said Brig. Gen. Vandal during a speech he gave during the ceremony.

Vandal, Brig. Gen. Nassir and Maj. Gen. Delshad laid a wreath at the base of a memorial rock at the LZ to honor the fallen U.S. and Iraqi Soldiers of this and previous wars.

Following the ceremony, Vandal along with his distinguished guests had dinner at Command Post-North, Task Force Marne.

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