McChrystal emphasized the beam’s symbolism. Once it provided structure to a building, so that life could be lived inside of it. Now, in front of the RC East HQ, it would continue to provide structure in the mindset of troops. Following McChrystal’s speech, troops applauded as Scaparrotti and Army Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Capel, removed the tarp that covered the 9', 950-lb beam segment.
Residents of Breezy Point, N.Y., donated the beam through an org. called Sons and Daughters of America, Breezy Point. The city of N.Y. had given a number of beams to the residents of Breezy Point, after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that killed nearly 30 residents from the small neighborhood in Queens.
After the community constructed a memorial from the beams, Sons and Daughters donated 3 beams to the U.S. military. One is at the recently opened Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, Ga., and the other is aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz. The 3rd beam arrived at Bagram Airfield in March, based largely on the efforts of recently redeployed Army Maj. Stephen Ryan, a governance planner for Combined Joint TF-82 who hails from Breezy Point. As a tribute to its arrival March 31, Soldiers of the 612th Quarter Master Det., sling-loaded the beam along with a U.S. flag from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, and flew around the installation with the beam and flag displayed. In accordance with the wishes of Sons and Daughters, the beam will remain on loan to successive units in RC-East until the last American troops withdraw from Afghanistan. The beam will then be sent to Fort Bragg, N.C.CJTF-82 in Afghanistan, Bagram Media Center
“We had around 350 patients throughout the day,” said AF Tech. Sgt. Ryan Harding, a medical tech, stationed at Buckley AF Base, Colo. We didn’t see any women and only a few adults.” The medical personnel had asked why the local women didn’t come to the clinic, and were told that the village elders told them not to. “We attribute the lack of adult patients to the fact that the area is less secure than some of the past locations we have set up free clinics,” said Harding. To encourage locals to visit the free clinic, the security detail walked around and spoke to the village elders to let them know we were there to help. The visit also gave both the U.S. and Afghan forces an opportunity to listen to the concerns of the local villagers. Many of the Afghan locals expressed their opinion about the current situation in their village, including a belief that the violence may never end, despite more job opportunities being available. Some members expressed gratitude and gratefulness towards the govt, but some also said that all Afghans need to pull together to make life better in Kaylan. However, the conversations with the villagers were cut short when white flags were raised around Kaylan village. The white flags were a warning for the villagers to get off the roads, that there was trouble ahead. Most of the locals quickly vanished from the area. The security detail, headed by Brewer, moved their patrol to an adjacent village, Kala. This was familiar territory, because the detail was hit by an IED last week on a nearby road in the area. “You're sure to get in a fire fight if you go 2-3 kms that way,” said a homeowner, who was warning the team of nearby danger. The medical team continued to provide care to patients. However, they hurried to see the last of the patients who were lined up outside, when a dust storm was approaching. They quickly loaded up their left over supplies and themselves into the convoy vehicles. As the convoy passed through Gardez at rush hour, the streets were packed. This was a good sign that the convoy was out of danger, according to Elliot, who was steadily sounding his horns to clear the way for the convoy to return home to FOB Lightning.
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Photos by Staff Sgt. Adelita Mead