Palin Visits Kosovo SoldiersBy Sgt. 1st Class Paul WadeCalifornia National Guard CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo (6/26/09) -- Soldiers from the "Land of the Midnight Sun" got a huge morale boost when their governor, Sarah Palin, and Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, the adjutant general of Alaska, trekked about 5,000 miles to show their support for the Multi-National Task Force-East (MNTF-E) KFOR 11 mission. "Our Soldiers are America's heroes, and I want to do whatever I can do to show them support and take the time to do so, to travel and to see them," said Palin, who became Alaska's first female governor in November 2006. The 130 Soldiers, assigned to 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, form the bulk of Task Force Arctic Eagle. Their main contribution to keeping the peace in the Kosovo region is commanding the skies with their UH-60 Blackhawks. "I truly appreciate you from the bottom of my heart," said Palin. "I have such a sincere, great appreciation for all that you are doing to serve your state and your country." After she arrived, Palin met with senior leadership hosted Brig. Gen. Keith Jones, the commanding general of MNTF-E, and was briefed on the current situation in the eastern sector. The next morning, she was treated to a unique breakfast of pancakes and smoked salmon by her fellow Alaskans and listened to what the rank and file had on their minds. "[The governor] is real down-to-earth and as a mother of a teenager, she is someone I can relate to," said 1st Lt. Sarah Payeur, an aviation liaison officer with Task Force Arctic Eagle. "With her son in the Army, serving in Iraq, she completely understands what we are going through and to me that is important when it comes to knowing what family support is all about." During her visit, Palin and the Alaskan delegation visited a Task Force Artic Eagle adopt-a-school program in the nearby town of Ferizaj/Urosevac. "I think it is great what our troops are doing in helping these students learn English," said Palin, who took a sidewalk tour of the town with one of the students, Albana Mani. "We are very proud of our program and to show it off to the Governor was an honor," said Spc. Robert Sapp, a chaplain's assistant with the aviation regiment. "It was important to let her see how we interact with the local community, to let her know the impact we are having with these students." Before she left, Palin pinned several recently promoted Soldiers and handed out awards. "The characteristics that you all embody; your self-determination and self-sufficiency, combined with teamwork that is needed in order to get the job done. You embody that. You have that discipline and tenacity and that patriotism that I pray our younger generation will adopt," said Palin. " Our country will be better off if we have more of you out there serving something greater than self." Source: MilitarySpot.com |