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Lake Placid, NY Community Donates School Supplies to Iraqi Village

by Capt. Drew Lyons

Soldiers with the 1-10th Mountain Division's 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, have made winning the hearts and minds of Iraqi citizens one of their main efforts since their arrival to the Kirkuk area of northern Iraq in September 2007.

When friends and family of the deployed Soldiers learned of the unit's effort to provide local Iraqi schools with much needed supplies - they began a donation drive within their communities - eventually accumulating six large boxes of school supplies which they shipped to the 2-22 Inf. Soldiers.

1st Lt. Sean Kane, with the 1-10th Mountain Division's 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, hands a backpack to an Iraqi child in the village of Amushabi in the Kirkuk area of northern Iraq. When friends and family of the deployed Soldiers learned of the unit's effort to provide local Iraqi schools with much needed supplies - they began a donation drive within their communities - eventually accumulating six large boxes of school supplies which they shipped to the 2-22 Inf. Soldiers. The Soldiers were also able to acquire brand new desks, and almost 200 backpacks - which they filled with the school supplies from family and friends back home. (Photo by Army Capt. Drew Lyons, 1-10th Mtn. Div.)

The Soldiers were also able to acquire brand new desks, and almost 200 backpacks - which they filled with the school supplies from family and friends back home.

"The whole effort was amazing. I told my family back home what our intent was, and the response was overwhelming as they began to help any way they could," said 1st Lt. Sean Kane, Co. D, 2-22 Inf. - whose family in Lake Placid, NY initiated the donations.

The Soldiers conducted the humanitarian aid mission in the village of Amushabi, just outside the city of Kirkuk, Jan. 14.

Many Iraqi school children go without basic school supplies; even pencils and paper are hard to come by.

The Amushabi school children, ranging from ages 5 to 11, were thrilled to receive the backpacks, supplies and desks.

"It was very rewarding to see their faces light up with excitement," Kane said. "I am thankful to have had a part in doing something nice for these kids."

The mission, which was conducted along with Iraqi Security Forces, is an ongoing example of how Coalition Forces are determined to help the Iraqi people.

"The people in this area seem to believe that we have their best interests in mind," said Staff Sgt. Jason Folckemer, a Schenectady, NY native with 2-22 Inf. "The people take note of these humanitarian aid missions, and they are thankful for our efforts."

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com