First lady meets Airmen in Southwest Asia

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Ruby Zarzyczny
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  First lady Laura Bush met more than 40 Airmen from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, U.S. Embassy employees and their families Oct. 22 in Southwest Asia.

The first lady talked to them about her tour to the region and her interaction with women from the host nation during her tour of the Persian Gulf to help create breast cancer awareness in the region. 

She also thanked everyone there on behalf of the president and herself for their service to their country. 

"I was honored to meet the first lady," said Staff Sgt. Jonathan Steele, a 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Group quality assurance specialist deployed from Beale Air Force Base, Calif. "It was a great experience meeting someone who is and will be part of America's history. She was extremely personable and asked each of us where we were from."

The Airmen said they admired the first lady for her confidence and grace. They described her as a very warm and caring person.

"I believe if she could, the first lady would have loved to stay and talked more with us, " said Staff Sgt. Alicia Cruz, a 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft guidance and control journeyman deployed from Tinker AFB, Okla. "I was honored to be able to shake her hand and have my picture taken with her. I love all the programs she is involved in especially the breast cancer program and programs helping the youth in America."

"When I shook hands with the first lady, she asked me where I was from," said Staff Sgt. Andrei Cuzmar, a 380th Expeditionary Mission Support Group contingency postmaster deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and a native of Orlando, Fla. "She personally thanked me for my service and reminded me of what an important job we do here downrange. I remember her as being very outgoing, and an extremely elegant woman. Meeting her was a great opportunity, and I am very grateful to have been given the chance."

"It was exciting to meet someone who has such a great impact on our society today," said Senior Airman Amabel Varghese, a 380th Expeditionary Service Squadron services specialist deployed from the Oklahoma Air National Guard. "Our meeting was definitely a once in a life time opportunity; something I'll never forget." 

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