BAGHDAD — It was a scene that you might see in any average market place; vendors selling their wares to visiting tourists. The only difference was that these tourists were U.S. Soldiers.
The Daughters of Iraq, a national women's organization, held a bazaar raising money for local widows and orphans at Combat Outpost Meade, south of Baghdad, Nov. 13.
Soldiers of the 113th Field Artillery Battalion's Civil Affairs Team, based at the COP, hosted the bazaar and featured the work of several female Baghdad area artists and tailors.
"It is a sorority for charity, the money spent helps more than 400 local widows," said Selma el-Taai, president of the Mahmudiyah chapter of Bintel Fuurat, "Daughters of Iraq."
Handmade rugs of all types and colors, jewelry, prayer beads, handbags, decorative tea sets, scarves, head coverings, oil paintings of modern and historic Iraq, traditional garb, plaques and other items were for sale.
"It shows our ability as artists, painters and tailors. We can earn a living and show the Iraqi people what we can do," said Fasion, an artist from Baghdad.
Several dozen shoppers, including visiting actors Jeffrey Donovan and Bruce Campbell of the USA show, "Burn Notice", enjoyed the widow's special event. The two actors were visiting the COP as part of a morale welfare and recreation tour.
Soldiers stood around the tables trying on clothes, holding up jewelry, asking about prices and haggled the merchants for a better deal. In the end, both merchant and customer were satisfied, as Soldiers posed for pictures to send back home holding up their bargains.
"I bought a unique handmade shawl for my sister," said 1st Lt. Clifton, Gauldin of Raleigh, N.C. "They had some nice stuff over there; it is good to be able to get a local made item."
Many members of the Daughters of Iraq have attended recent workshops on how to run their own business and improve their skills for events like this.
Interaction between local citizens and the Soldiers was also a goal of the bazaar.
"It improves the bond between the U.S. and Iraqi people," said Fasion.
The artists said that they were happy the Soldiers bought items to mail home to family and friends as souvenirs of their deployment to Iraq.
"It is a chance to show Iraqi skill, art, culture and heritage," said Samara, a painter from Baghdad.