By Sgt. 1st Class Brian Addis
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
JOINT SECURITY STATION SAB AL BOUR, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers bore witness to an historic event at Joint Security Station Sab al Bour, northwest of Baghdad, as the national symbol of Iraq was raised over the Governance Center, Dec. 30, 2008.
The raising of the flag formally symbolizes the transition of control from the coalition forces back to the Iraqi government in the area.
Another page in Iraqi history was written as local leaders from Sab al Bour, joined by Soldiers assigned to Troop B "Bountyhunter," 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment "Strykehorse," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, MND-B, gathered for a ceremony commemorating the event.
Before officially raising the flag, Sab al Bour Nahia Mayor, Radhe Jaffar, along with Thamir Amud, Sab al Bour Nahia chairman, buried several items in a time capsule underneath the flag pole.
Among the items buried were several compact discs, which contained pictures of all the Nahia and Iraqi security forces leaders. Memorandums explaining what happened in Sab al Bour and the accomplishments of the new Iraqi government were also included. Buried along with the CDs were 15 9mm rounds: one for each block in Sab al Bour.
"The 9mm rounds being buried represent the end of violence in Sab al Bour," said Jaffar. "It [the 9mm rounds] also represents the fact that we are ready to leave the bad times buried in the past."
Together, the two men placed the capsule into the ground and covered it with dirt.
The honor of raising the flag was given to Thamir, a man who spent 13 years in prison under Saddam Hussein's regime for refusing to join the Baath party.
Thamir raised the flag slowly, as his eyes welled up with tears of joy.
"This is one of the proudest days of my life," Thamir said. "This is truly a great occasion as it symbolizes a new beginning and the end to many years of depression."
Capt. Dan Digati, a native of Medford, Ore., the Troop B commander, acknowledged all the improvements and positive steps the government in Sab al Bour made since May.
"Today's ceremony was certainly a tear jerker," he said. "Thamir and Radhe have seen Sab al Bour at its worst and for them to be a part of this transition means so much to not only them but to myself and the men and women of Bountyhunter Troop."