The event kicked off with the beats of DJ T-Zone from Camp Arifjan followed up by the popular band JamStart. The American community in Kuwait and Kuwaiti citizens were among the guests.
ABCK’s guest of honor U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Ms.Patricia Fietz started the official ceremony with a remarkable speech after the national anthem sung by Ms.Mclain Rose of Ashville, North Carolina.
Among the other guests of honor for the night was Brigadier General Mark McCormack from Camp Arifjan who acknowledged the brave soldiers and thanked them for their services while extending his gratitude to the sponsors of the event and the American Business Council.
“Some folks think that Christmas is a tough time to be deployed and away from home while serving our country….I feel that Independence Day is as well. This is when our families are gathering back home for reunions, family time, and vacations, our children are graduating from school, our younger children are going away for the first time to camps…and we are not there to celebrate with them….events such as this, make us feel like we are doing our part to celebrate with them even if we are thousands of miles away,” said Brig. Gen. Mark McCormack, deputy commanding general of support, 28th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan.
KGL’s Mr. Pete Swift, who is also a board member with ABCK, greeted the soldiers and extended his gratitude for their dedication and service to their country.
Raytheon’s Mr. Gary Menke thanked ABCK for organizing a great event and the opportunity to sponsor.
ABCK’s Chairwoman Dr. Juliet Dinka and Executive Director Ms. Esra Cavdarli Menke acknowledged the sponsors KGL, Raytheon, GFT, Smash Events, Hayat Int, Marafia and Jumeriah Messilah Beach Resort and Spa.
Several ABCK board members were also in attendance at their premier community event of the year. Chair Dr Dinkha also thanked the ABCK Staff, Ms. Tessy Cabrera, and Mr. Jenson Joy, and all the volunteers who helped put another successful event into the ABCK history books.
“The board members of the ABCK know that our soldiers have been working hard with our ‘Every Soldier and Ambassador Program’ becoming more involved with the Kuwaiti community, through several NGOs, and this was their way of saying thanks to these soldiers,” said Amanda Harrah, civil affairs officer with the 28th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan.
“As deployed soldiers, we likely carry a deeper understanding of what independence, freedom, and family means. ABCK recognizes this and gave us an opportunity to celebrate those things with them,” said Lt. Col. Keith Hickox, public affairs officer with the 28th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan.
The event concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony celebrating the 242nd Independence Day of the United States of America.
