US Ambassador to Qatar Dana Shell Smith welcomed over 250 men and women from the US Army and Air Force bases to the American School of Doha (ASD) for their 4th annual Military Appreciation Day. The day marks an opportunity to recognise the troops for the volunteer time they provided to the school and also to honour their service to their country.
In her opening address ASD School Director, Dr Deborah Welch expressed the school’s gratitude for the military’s 3,000 hours of volunteer service thus far this year to support school events, sporting events, and after-school activities.
Dr Welch remarked: “Our 2,100 students of 79 different nationalities benefit from the US military in a myriad of ways. From helping launch rockets for an after school activity, to robotics to officiating games to providing lessons on flight and weather, we are truly grateful for this partnership.”
In attendance along with the US Ambassador, was Colonel William Wozniak, Commander Area Support Group - Qatar Third Army/US Army Central, and Colonel Stephen Biggs, 379 Air Expeditionary Wing Vice Commander, Al Udeid Air Force Base.
Military guests had full access to the campus for the day to take part in activities such as basketball, American flag football, volleyball, scuba diving, water polo kayaking, and more. Many enjoyed just having the opportunity to walk through the grass in their barefoot and taking the time to relax in a comfy couch in the school library.
Over 40 students, parents, faculty and staff volunteered to head-up activities, grill hamburgers and manage the concession area. Several local businesses also joined in supporting the day as sponsors: Gulf Agency Company provided the t-shirts, True Value Hardware sponsored the activities, and Sylvan Learning provided the food. Managing Director for Sylvan Learning Centers in Qatar, Phillip Oesterblad commented: “It was great getting to help out and meeting all of the troops.”
Phillip and his wife took to the grills themselves volunteering to help cook 300 hamburgers for the day.
The American School of Doha is proud to host this event each year and is happy that they can offer the hard working servicemen and women stationed here in Qatar the opportunity to relax and enjoy a day of fun in the sun.
Dr Welch said: “We are so fortunate to have the support of these great men and women offering to volunteer and positively impacting the lives of our students.”
The Peninsula
