NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Thailand - U.S. and Thai service members attended a social event hosted by the local community at Ban Wang Nam Khiao Elementary School here Jan. 27.
The gathering included live music, Thai cuisine, an improvised game of soccer and a demonstration of traditional Thai dance.
Community members hosted the event as a way to express their appreciation for the efforts of U.S. military personnel, said Siriporn Mung Phung, an English teacher at the school.
Soldiers from the 176th Engineer Company, Washington Army National Guard, are working with their Thai counterparts from the 2nd Development Division, Royal Thai Army, to construct a new building at the site.
Phung said the new building will be a much-needed secondary school. Members of the community have been lobbying for a new structure at the site for 15 years, she said.
The humanitarian civic action project is being conducted as part of Exercise Cobra Gold to improve interoperability, while providing vital services to areas in need.
“This is a huge thing for a small community,” said Army 1st Lt. Cydni McCormick, the officer in charge at the construction site.
Community members donated food and money for the festivities, she said.
The project being conducted in Nakhon Ratchasima is one of six humanitarian civic action projects being conducted throughout Thailand as part of Exercise Cobra Gold.
Exercise Cobra Gold is scheduled to conclude Feb. 17, 2012.