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1-37 FA, 3/2 SBCT featured in the following article.
By Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs
BOOB AL SHAM — Coalition forces assisted the city council here with the re-opening of the Boob Al Sham Girls Secondary School April 18 after a $100,000 renovation on the school building.
On the first day of school nearly 600 students from ages 12 to 17 came back to the facility that now has freshly painted walls, ceilings, new light fixtures, new restrooms, fans, water fountains and repaired roofs.
The renovation is just one of many projects the Boob Al Sham city council and 1st “Red Lion” Battalion 37th Field Artillery Regiment Soldiers have been bringing to fruition for the people here. Other projects for the town include improving electricity, a water treatment plant and improving sewage systems.
“When we talked to the city council and asked them what was the most important thing they wanted to do first as a project, they told us it was the education of their children,” said U.S. Army Capt. Evan Gotkin, battery commander, Battery C, 1st Bn., 37th FA Regt. during a dedication ceremony on the school’s basketball court. “They wanted to ensure their children had a clean, safe and well-built building before pursuing other projects like electricity, water and sewage.”
“They realized that Iraq does not have a bright future unless its children are educated,” added Gotkin. “This is a celebration of the city council who made this decision possible for your future and the future of Iraq.”
Throughout the morning, Soldiers handed out school supplies to the children. They also donated and put together a swing set on the school’s recess yard for the younger children to enjoy.
“We’re celebrating a small victory over terrorism by providing a good place for kids to be educated,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Burke Manwaring, a platoon leader for Battery C, 1st Bn., 37th FA Regt. “This is a great way for the public and the Coalition to interact and see each other on a personal level to build relationships and trust.”
Many of the school supplies given to the children in Boob Al Sham were donated through Operation Lion’s Castle by the families and friends of Soldiers in Iraq. It was established by the 1st Bn., 37th FA Regt. chaplain’s office in August to collect donations of clothes, school supplies, shoes and toys among other items to give to people in Iraq.
“There are a lot of generous donors out there in the states who care about what’s going on here and about the Iraqi people, so there are a lot of good things going on,” added U.S. Army Chaplain (Capt.) Tom Strong, the 1st Bn., 37th FA Regt. chaplain.
The re-opening of the school shows that Coalition forces are here to assist the Iraqi people not only militarily but through humanitarian aid.
“This is an opportunity for us to show encouragement to the kids and we’re here to let the people know that we’re not here to terrorize them; we’re here to help them help themselves,” said Strong.