Iraqis, Coalition troops open refurbished school

Photo By Sgt. Natalie Loucks | A boy helps carry book bags filled with school supplies into the newly refurbished Saba Nissan School after a ribbon-cutting ceremony signifying the re-opening of the school, Sept. 22.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, IRAQ

09.25.2007

Story by Sgt. Natalie Loucks 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

By Sgt. Natalie Rostek
3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – City council members and school leaders hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to signify the re-opening of a renovated school in Saba Nissan, Sept. 22.

Soldiers and leaders of 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, and 489th Civil Affairs Battalion, who facilitated the rebuilding of the school, attended the ceremony. Although coalition forces supported the project by funding and mentoring, Iraqi contractors and council members headed the project.

Juma'h Mawat Badday, the school principal, cut the red ribbon as Capt. Jared Albright, of Lancaster, Pa., commander, Troop B, 3-1 Cav. Regt., and Hassan Maheed Hamza, a member of the city council, stood by in support of the event.

"When the school year begins, this school will be one of many that will educate and prepare the future leaders of both your community and Iraq," Albright said.

According to 2nd Lt. Richard Perry, of Durham, N.C., Troop B fire support officer, the project to rebuild the school has been in progress for about four months.

The entire structure was restructured, he said. The broken walls were fixed, new classrooms were set up and a new playground was constructed.

After the ceremony, Lt. Col. John Kolasheski, of Louden, Tenn., commander, 3-1 Cav. Regt., toured the new school. At the same time, Soldiers from 3-1 Cav. Regt. and 489th Civil Affairs Battalion handed out book-bags filled with school supplies to teachers and children.

"Today we not only celebrate the opening of this school, but we also celebrate the Iraqi government's commitment to building a strong country that is able to meet the needs of its citizens," Albright said. "This new school is a prime example of what can happen when the Iraqi government and coalition forces work together."

• Date Taken: 09.25.2007
• Date Posted: 09.25.2007 07:44
• Story ID: 12535
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, IQ