NINEWA PROVINCE — Sheik Khalid of Jobury and Sheik Ali of Albayati recently hosted a construction project opening celebration at the Assyrian Ruins here.
Leaders from the military, police, construction company and surrounding towns were invited to celebrate and discuss issues concerning the new project with the Green Dream Contract Company, said Lt. Col. Chris Johnson, commander, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment.
“The company is bringing in a new project to pave the roads and train Iraqi student workers. The training consists of two to three months in the classroom and three months of on-the-job training,” said Mohammed, an information technologist, Green Dream Contract Company. “The company has Iraqi counterparts here to head up and manage it.”
The students will learn road construction and repair, how to best use water for agriculture, and how to plan and construct canals.
There are 184 students slated for the program and the program is expected to expand in the future, said Mohammed.
Many people attended the celebration and some participated in Kurdish dance traditions, while others mingled. Food was prepared and served buffet style and made available to all. After eating and serving a second round of chi, the leaders gathered together and were given a tour of the ruins.
“There are ruins here,” said Sheik Ali of Albayati. “The Griffin’s are at the gate of the palace and have been here even before the time of Assyria.”
“Archeologists have been here to look at the site before, but are not here now,” said Sheik Khalid of Jobury. “This is where many princes stayed, using the ruins as a hideout for up to three months. In 2001, there were two griffins found near here, taller than waist high, and taken to Baghdad.”
While talking about the ruins, leaders exchanged smiles and were able to get to know each other better in a more relaxed setting.
“The history here, it’s so amazing,” said Johnson, “We only have a couple hundred years of history, but the history here goes so far back.”
This project opening will pave the way, literally, for Iraq and its ability to work together.
(By Spc. Cynthia Teears, 11th Public Affairs Detachment)