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AF leaders celebrate local holiday "Nooruz"

  • Published
  • By Public Affairs
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  Col. Blaine Holt and Command Chief Master Sgt. James Dowell, the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander and command chief, visited the villages of Ak-Jhol and Tort-Kul March 21 in honor of the Kyrgyz holiday "Nooruz."

Local people celebrate Nooruz by getting together, singing, dancing and greeting each other.

Transit Center personnel were invited for Nooruz celebration by the local administration of Ak-Jhol and Tort-Kul Villages. It was really a treat to be invited to the Nooruz holiday celebrations.

"Our relationship with the community, its Kyrgyz people, is much stronger now. This could be seen this weekend when we were invited to many Nooruz events," Colonel Holt, Director of the Transit Center at Manas, said. "It was an honor to stand up and speak to all the villagers including children, mothers, grandmothers".

Much to the delight of the villagers, Colonel Holt congratulated them in the Kyrgyz language.

"Today's joint celebration of Nooruz is evidence that our relations with our Kyrgyz community is on the right track and promising", said Col Holt.- "We look forward to implementing some great projects for local villages."

Local villagers cordially welcomed their American friends, thanked them for the visit and regular assistance to their village and offered them delicious holiday food. American servicemen and villagers enjoyed the Nooruz Holiday very much.