POSTED: Friday, November 24, 2006

U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti celebrates Thanksgiving with Camp Lemonier personnel

Story by U.S. Army Capt.Todd Goren

CJTF-HOA Strategic Communications

CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti (November 23, 2006) -- (Left) U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti, W. Stuart Symington, assist in serving Thanksgiving dinner to service members attached to U.S. Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), at the Bob Hope Dining Facility, onboard Camp Lemonier, Djibouti. (USN Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Eric A. Clement) (Large Image.   Hi-Res Image.)

CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti – While Americans celebrated their Thanksgiving holiday around the table with family and friends, troops at Camp Lemonier spent Thanksgiving with their second family- people from different nations and service branches. 

A time-honored tradition for the U.S. military on Thanksgiving is to eat in the dining facility as a group and be served by your superiors.  At Camp Lemonier’s dining facility this year, U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti, Mr. W. Stuart Symington and Deputy Commander for CJTF-HOA Rear Admiral Timothy Moon served Thanksgiving dinner to troops.  After serving food to the personnel, the Ambassador and Deputy Commander spent time talking with Camp Lemonier military members. 

The service members stationed at Camp Lemonier really enjoyed the festivities. 

“The food was great!  There was such a huge selection, I didn’t know what to eat first!” said Staff Sgt. Steven Hampton, a U.S. Army service member serving with Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa.

“It was nice that something special was done today,” said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Marion Popescu.  “Thanksgiving is truly a day to give thanks for all that we have.  That is really brought into perspective by having Thanksgiving in Africa.  There are so many people here that have very little and today makes me feel grateful of the things that I have.”
 
Even though the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen of Camp Lemonier were deployed away from their families on this holiday, they were still able to celebrate the holiday and enjoy a great meal.