Pelosi, Delegation visits troops in Afghanistan on Mother’s Day

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Jonathan Carmichael | House Democratic Leader, Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) displays a congressional coin to troops on Camp Leatherneck during a Mother's Day visit to Afghanistan in which Pelosi and five other congresswomen met with the troops.  

HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

05.13.2012

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Jonathan Carmichael 

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) visited troops on Camp Leatherneck in Helmand province, Afghanistan, along with four other congresswomen on Mother’s Day, May 13, 2012.

Joining Pelosi were Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), and Rear Adm. Brian P. Monahan, attending physician for Congress and the Supreme Court.

In attendance were Marines of Regional Command Southwest and Navy Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11.

Pelosi approached the podium after a brief introduction by Marine Capt. Jacobus Vollebregt, funding U.S. Military Operations attorney, Regional Command Southwest.

One by one, Pelosi introduced the members of her delegation, and each was met with applause from the attending service members.

“President Obama and Michelle both brag about having gone to school with Congresswoman Terri Sewell,” stated Pelosi of the congresswoman representing the 7th District of Alabama.

The Democratic Leader explained that she has brought a delegation of women each year to visit troops on Mother’s Day.

“It’s special for us, having this Mother’s Day tradition, to thank you for protecting America’s families; to honor each and every one of you and pay our respects to you; and also to especially pay our respects to our women members who are serving – some of whom are moms and – what we’re finding out on these trips – some of whom are grandmothers,” said Pelosi to the troops.

“All of you make special sacrifices as, of course, courageous fighters for our country, but also many of you are parents, and we recognize that sacrifice.”

Following Pelosi’s address, the delegation mingled and posed for photographs with troops before departing Camp Leatherneck.

The Regional Command Southwest mission is to conduct counterinsurgency operations focused on protecting the Afghan people, developing Afghan National Security Forces capabilities, and in conjunction with the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team and the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, supporting the improved governance and economic development.

Homeported in Gulfport, Miss., NMCB-11 is deployed to Afghanistan to conduct general, mobility, survivability engineering operations, defensive operations, Afghan National Army partnering and detachment of units in combined/joint operations area - Afghanistan in order to enable the neutralization of the insurgency and support improved governance and stability operations.

• Date Taken: 05.13.2012
• Date Posted: 05.14.2012 04:48
• Story ID: 88383
• Location: HELMAND PROVINCE, AF