November 1, 2005

I wanted to show my country that I cared.
I didn’t want to just sit back and watch things happen.
I wanted to be a part of them.
~Army Spc. James Newton~

Children scramble to get toys from the back of a pickup truck delivered by the MPs.

By Maj. Charles Kohler
Maryland National Guard
Issue: January 2004

PARKVILLE, Md. – Deployed away from their families and friends in a remote country to defend freedom, members of the Maryland Army National Guard are helping children in an orphanage in the Kabul district of Afghanistan.

The children, many newborns and up to 10 years old, are too young to understand religion, politics – let alone war. In their short lives they have only known fear and loneliness. The soldiers of the 290th Military Police Company from Parkville have put a smile on the faces of these innocent victims of an intolerant regime.

While on a security patrol north of Kabul, the soldiers delivered needed clothes and blankets to the children, as well as donated toys from family members and businesses from home.

"Once we made them aware of the need, the Family Support Group kind of adopted the orphanage," said 1st Sgt. Aaron Henderson. "The children's faces just light up when they see us coming."

The Family Support Group, made up of family members of the deployed soldiers of the 290th, is actively seeking donations for the orphanage. The unit collects donations from their unit and the Family Support Group, and from other units in the area, explained Capt. Robert Estes, commander of the 290th MP Company.

"When we have a truck full of donations, we bring it to the orphanage," said Estes.

The 290th was mobilized and deployed in July to support Operation Enduring Freedom. They are currently supporting missions in Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

song playing....Abraham, Martin, and John

Back to Calendar