The thousand Missourians who are doing their part for peace on earth in Kosovo have been spending this day trying to make it as typical a Christmas Day as possible under their circumstances.
The National Guard Members are the lead unit in the Multinational Task Force, East, in the nation that’s working toward a constitutional democracy in an area that used to be part of Yugoslavia. The task force commander is Brigadier General Larry Kay who says some special activities have been going on…
Special food and presents have been taken to a couple of units outside the headquarters area. Inside the main area, there have been religious services, a special meal, caroling, and other forms of celebration. "It’s a time when we’re away from family but it’s a time when we’re with our army family, here," he says.
forms of celebration.
Kay says this could be a melancholy time for the Missourians, but he says the soldiers are so "incredibly busy" that they don’t have time to reflect on that sort of thing. He says today is probably harder on the families back here in Missouri. .
Kosovo is a predominantly Moslem country, giving Missourians a different cultural experience for the holiday. Kay says he’s been surprised by the number of his Moslem friends who have wished him a Merry Christmas
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