 |
Soldiers in Baghdad Celebrate Christmas With Cookies
(December 25, 2008) |
|
|
 |
|
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq, Dec. 24, 2008
Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers gathered
at the Ironhorse Oasis Dining Facility here Dec. 21 to celebrate
Christmas in a traditional way by decorating Christmas cookies.
(photo left)
As Christmas movies played in the background, the soldiers sat
around a table filled with colorful frosting, sprinkles and cookies
shaped as snowmen, angels and Christmas trees -- laughing and
talking about Christmas memories.
“This is something I used to do when I was a kid,” said Army 1st. Lt. Arlene Pina,
a San Diego native who serves with the 716th Military Police
Battalion,8th Military Police Brigade.
|
|
“It's reminds me of being back home
with my family.” |
|
Army Staff Sgt. Jennifer Komlofske, a Baltimore native, and
Army Sgt. Lisa Burnett, a Utica, N.Y., native, baked the cookies. Both are cooks
with the 4th Infantry Division's Special Troops Battalion. A supportive family
from Killeen, Texas, donated the frosting and the decorative toppings.
“This is a great opportunity for soldiers to get out, take a break and make the
best out of the holiday spirit,” Burnett said. “It can get kind of lonely here
around the holidays, because we all miss our families, but I think it's
important to get together and spend time with the family we do have -- right
now, we are each other's family.”
While many of the soldiers came to make the best of spending Christmas without
their families, Army Sgt. Tericka Dowdy, a Columbus, Ohio, native and human
intelligence collector, along with her husband, Army Spc. David Dowdy, a San
Antonio native who serves as an information technology system specialist,
attended to build memories of their first Christmas together as a couple. Both
serve in the 4th Infantry Division's Special Troops Battalion.
“It's hard during the holidays to be away from your family, and we are lucky to
have each other here,” David said. “This is the first chance we get to make
Christmas memories, so we're trying to enjoy it as much as we can. [Cookie
decorating] is something that reminds us of being home, and it's something we
can do together to appreciate the Christmas spirit.”
Tericka agreed with her husband. “We're here in Iraq decorating cookies with our
weapons sitting on the floor next to our feet,” she said. “Hopefully, this is
something we can look back on and tell our kids in the future.” | |
Article and photo by Army Pfc. Lyndsey Dransfield
American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2008
Army Pfc. Lyndsey Dransfield serves in the Multinational
Division Baghdad public affairs office.
Comment on this article |
|
