28th Combat Aviation Brigade celebrates Fourth of July in traditional and unique ways

Photo By Matthew Jones | Spc. Sabrina Bricker of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th Combat Aviation Brigade watched the fireworks video at Camp Adder's Big Top.  

TALLIL, IRAQ

07.04.2009

Story by Sgt. Matthew Jones 

28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq — Celebrating holidays in Iraq can be tricky, particularly a holiday synonymous with fireworks such as the Fourth of July.

Soldiers of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th Combat Aviation Brigade celebrated July 4th, at Camp Adder in Southern Iraq. And yes, there were "fireworks."

The day began with hundreds of Soldiers stationed here, including approximately 50 - 100 28th CAB members, beat the sunrise to participate in the 10K Peachtree Road Race.

Soldiers could then eat breakfast at one of the three patriotically decorated dining facilities. The Warrior's DFAC was bedecked in traditional and unique decorations. Red, white and blue was splashed around the room, but so were colorful sculptures of animals and objects designed to remind soldiers of home. The sculptures included geese, houses, a bald eagle and a special touch for the Pennsylvanians, the Liberty Bell.

The Iraqi business zone, a collection of local vendors located near the base, was open for business as usual, but additional vendors sold their wares under tents during the Independence Day weekend.

Items for sale included paintings, clothing and electronics, but according to one vendor, the most popular items, July 4th, were trinkets and souvenirs such as Iraqi-themed household goods and decorations. Novelties such as camel rides and Arabic name plaques were also popular.

Other events included a firefighter competition and a small carnival, but like any good Fourth of July event, it was topped off with a fireworks show.

Instead of looking into the air, the troops of Camp Adder were treated with a drive-in style video of a fireworks show projected from the back of a pickup truck onto a pair of concrete barriers. Speakers carried the booms and crackles far enough for passersby to wander into the area.

Unlike the fireworks shows that would be happening several hours later on the other side of the globe, at the conclusion of the grand finale, the fireworks show started again from the top.

• Date Taken: 07.04.2009
• Date Posted: 07.06.2009 02:54
• Story ID: 35997
• Location: TALLIL, IQ