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~~To Our Brave Patriot Vets, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Coasties, Allies & Families~~

WE THANK YOU SO MUCH, WE LOVE YOU & WE PRAY FOR YOU DAILY!

A U.S. Army soldier distributes newspapers to Afghan children during a patrol in Bagram, Afghanistan, Nov. 16, 2006. The soldier is assigned to the 102nd Infantry Regiment, Connecticut National Guard, attached to the 10th Mountain Division. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Dexter D. Clouden

Army Capt. Christopher McDonald (left), a native of Sterling, N.Y., who serves as a staff officer with the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division,, and Maj. Mahssen, the 4th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, executive officer, talk while they are celebrating Thanksgiving together in Yusufiyah, Iraq, Nov. 23. Photo by Staff Sgt. Angela McKinzie

“I invited the Iraqi soldiers to come share Thanksgiving with us,” said Capt. Christopher McDonald, a native of Sterling, N.Y., who serves as a 4-31 staff officer. “I figured since we train and fight together, then we might as well eat together.”

The Iraqi soldiers, who had never eaten in the 4-31 dining facility before, scooped up the traditional Thanksgiving food – turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie – and put it on their plates. As they passed through the dining facility, they greeted everyone with a smile and a message: “Happy Thanksgiving.”

The Iraqi soldiers had not only learned to say “Happy Thanksgiving” in English, but also what the holiday meant.

“Sharing this meal is a time that we (Iraqis and Americans) can come together and be thankful that we have each other,” said Maj. Mahssen, the Iraqi division’s executive officer. “We come and eat together as brothers.”

Sharing a Thanksgiving meal was important to many of the U.S. soldiers, because they feel the Iraqi soldiers are like family.

“I feel great that we are inviting them to share our culture with us since they always share their culture with (us),” said Pvt. Sean Mathis, an infantryman with 4-31 and native of Sandersville, Ga. “Eating with them is like the same concept of eating with our families – they are like family.”

U.S. Army Sgt. Dane Phelps launches a Raven small unmanned aerial vehicle during a joint U.S. and Iraqi cordon and search operation in the Patika province of Iraq Nov. 16, 2006. Phelps is assigned to 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment. DoD photo by Sgt. 1st Class Michael Guillory, U.S. Army.

Many Artists ~~ HUGE 70's Super Disco Mix

Dave Grusin, David Sanborn ~~ JoAnn's Song (Love Theme from Tequila Sunrise)

Randy Crawford ~~ Rio de Janiero Blue

George Duke ~~ Shine On

Paul Hardcastle ~~ Peace on Earth

...said Maj. Mahssen, the Iraqi division’s executive officer. “We come and eat together as brothers.”

Breaking bread has always been a sign of friendship. I love this story. :-)

Very cool stuff there, Starwise. Thank you.

Thanks, STAR, for spinning tunes for the troops. ((HUGS))

BTTT