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Manas security forces expand ‘beat’ for Child Protection Day

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Adriane Craig
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AB, Kyrgyzstan --  Security forces members "serve and protect" as part of their everyday mission at Manas Air Base.

But on May 30, their "beat" was expanded to include the children of Oktyabrskoye for International Child Protection Day. The "October Village" is the local village their squadron is paired up with for the Manas Air Base Village Partnership Program.

The volunteers delivered care package bags for village members for the local recognition of the international holiday, commemorated Sunday. The bags contained T-shirts, towels, toys and coloring books, and were very appreciated by the village members and the village mayor.

Ms. Galina Terschuk, the mayor of the village, worked with her partnership squadron to sponsor a special visit to the village to provide help to those who need it most--mostly refugees from Tajikistan as well as invalids that cannot care for themselves.

"We chose the families that are the most needy to receive your gifts," she said. "There are so many families that need so much that we are unable to give them."

Filling that need was what drew Staff Sgt. Ryan McNamara, a deployed cop from the 114th Security Forces Squadron at Sioux Falls, S.D. He was glad to be able to give the children things that they may never have gotten otherwise.

"I'm just happy that I am able to help make their day better," said Sergeant McNamara. "It's great to see the smiles on the faces of the children and how they showed their great appreciation of what we do for them."

Visiting the village on Child Protection Day was special for Chief Master Sgt. Leroy Roberts, who works with youth back home through his school and church. He is deployed from the172nd Airlift Wing in Jackson, Miss.

"Back home, we have children's day the second Sunday of June," he said. "Not many people realize this or celebrate it, but it is important to show our children how much we care."

The fact that the day is widely celebrated in Kyrgyzstan shows that the importance of children's issues here, said Chief Roberts.

"[The Kyrgyz] are personable, passionate people, and that they are concerned about the growth and development of their youth - they understand youth are the future," he added.

Mayor Terschuk said the day would have a lasting effect.

"We are so very thankful for you," she said. "You have made this a very special day for these children, and they will remember this day for a very long time to come.