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BAGHDAD, Iraq (April 9, 2008) - Soldiers at Forward Operating
Base War Eagle here invited a group of Iraqi children to showcase
their artistic skills and creativity March 29 by painting the
concrete walls used to protect citizens in their neighborhood.
The children live in a village near War Eagle and walk by the
"T-walls" daily on their way to school, said Army Capt. Megan
Welch, a Multinational Division Baghdad logistics officer with the
4th Infantry Division's 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade
Combat Team, adding that the children find the route to be a safe
way to get to school.
Though the focus of the painting session was to provide another
way to establish rapport with the adult and younger residents of
the village, Welch said, it also was a chance for the children to
beautify something they see daily.
Welch, a native of La Crescent, Minn., added that it helped the
Iraqi children see soldiers not only as armed protectors, but also
as people with whom they can interact.
The children painted Iraqi and American flags, palm trees,
flowers, hearts and other designs of their imagination to give the
T-walls a vivid look. The painting day gave the children a better
feeling of how people behind the uniform are, and it shows them
soldiers care about them, Welch said.
"The kids who participated had a good time, and for us, it was a
good opportunity to interact with the neighborhood kids," said Army
Capt. Walter Zurkowsky, a New Hampshire native who serves as
executive officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd
Brigade Combat Team.
Welch and her fellow soldiers from the Mountaineer Battalion
organized the day and said they hope to host similar events.
"We had a lot of fun with the kids. It was a good, cooperative
community-building event, and we look forward to seeing many of
these in the future," she said.
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