Manas Village officials invite Air Force leaders to Victory Day celebration

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Carolyn Viss
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan (AFNS) --  Manas Village officials hosted a Victory Day celebration to commemorate the end of World War II, May 9 at Manas Village.

Mr. Beshimbaev Kabylbek, the Mayor of Manas, invited Col. Blaine Holt, the director of the Transit Center at Manas, and Chief Master Sgt. James Dowell, the Transit Center's command chief, to join in the ceremonies, also attended by four highly-decorated World War II veterans from Manas Village, Kyrgyzstan.

"We recognize that the United States and the people of the Soviet Union, including Kyrgyzstan, worked together to defeat a great evil during the Great Patriotic War," Colonel Holt said. "This Memorial Day honored heroes who, from the Kyrgyz side, served with us."

Our partnership during World War II is similar to the way the U.S. and Kyrgyzstan have come together today to wage the war against terror, he said.

"Kyrgyzstan has been intrepid about their support for our continued operations here, and our relationship continues to grow in common interest," Colonel Holt said.

He shared with the village some personal stories of his godfather, who served in World War II, and empathized with those who are close to his age who also had fathers serving in the Great Patriotic War.

"We understand there have been difficult days here with the recent revolution, and there are some wounded and victims who have fallen because of that, but we will do everything we can to assist, ease suffering, and be a support to the people of the community," the director said.

He presented the mayor with a Kyrgyz flag that was flown during a U.S. combat mission over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as a certificate to accompany its display. Then, Chief Dowell gave each of the veterans in attendance a certificate to commemorate the gift.

Additionally, the mayor unveiled and conducted a ribbon-cutting for a memorial wall, upon which was etched the names of about 50 patriots from Manas Village who died in the war.

While celebrating the victory of the end of the Nazi regime and mourning the death of the losses this village faced, Chief Dowell said the event was a balancing act between happiness and sadness.

"If these patriots were alive today, I think they would be very happy to see all the wonderful families, the celebrations, and all the cultural traditions that went on today," he said. "It was a wonderful experience."

Having joined the Air Force 26 years ago during the height of the Cold War, Chief Dowell said it is a privilege to be in Kyrgyzstan and see our former adversaries, with whom we are now the best of friends and neighbors, just as we were in World War II.

"An event like yesterday highlights the good partnership and good neighborly relationship we have with the Kyrgyz people," he said.