TF Houston National Guard Soldiers Improve Schools in Kosovo

TF Houston National Guard Soldiers Improve Schools in Kosovo

11/7/06, Kosovo—The Soldiers of Co. D., TF Houston took the opportunity to assist the students of a local town in Kosovo. As their company project, Co. D. elected to make improvements to the soccer field at Pones/Ponesh school. Pones/Ponesh was chosen because of its almost equal population of Kosovo Serbs and Albanians.A local contractor was hired to construct the frames for the soccer field’s goals. In the meantime, the biggest challenge was to level and improve the field as much as possible. The engineer platoon of Co. B., TF Houston was asked to assist with this task.“The whole community was involved,” SGT Leonardo Ruiz, Beaumont, Texas, said. “We had help from both Serbs and Albanians throughout the project.”After two months, the field was leveled and the turf was laid. On Aug. 21, the goals and nets were installed and a community ceremony was held to begin play.The mayor, as well as the Delta commander, spoke at the ceremony followed by the game. The first game featured Albanian and Serbian teamscompeting. The next game saw the Delta Soldiers soundly defeated by the Albanians. Although beaten badly by the local team the Soldiers still walked away with a sense of pride.“I came back with a sense of satisfaction. We were able to do something that made a visible difference,” SGT Ruiz said.

1SG Richard Milford, Co. D, Keller, Texas, Task Force Houston shakes hands with a local student as part of the dedication ceremony of the newly constructed soccer field at the Pones/Ponesh school. The Soldiers also handed out sodas and ice cream to the children to celebrate the opening.Photo by SGT Leonardo Ruiz, Co. D.,

TF Houston1LT Samantha Garcia, S-1, TF Houston, San Antonio, Texas helps applyprimer to the walls of Sadri Masini primary school in Gornja Sipanica/Shipashnice e Eperme.Photo by SFC Jerry Loughridge, HHC, TF HoustonBy SPC Gene DuBielak

Courtesy of Guardian Online

GX Online

technorati tags:KFOR, Guard, Houston, Kosovo, School

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