Visiting Soldiers
Foreign military officers tour Emporia's veterans' sites
By Scott Rochat
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Foreign military officers visited Emporia sites honoring veterans on Tuesday as part of a four-day tour of Kansas.
The 77 officers are students at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. By the time they have finished their studies, they will have spent a year in the United States, acquiring knowledge of American life and culture in addition to their military studies.
Maj. Banit Negi of the Indian Army said he arrived at the college in January, which was the first time he had been away from his home country.
“Everyone has a great amount of apprehension at first when you are trying to cut across cultural lines and establish cross-culture connections,” Negi said. “You have to be flexible.”
The officers visited Emporia’s American Legion Post 5 and the All Veterans Memorial in Soden’s Grove.
Army Lt. Col. Teena Barber said Tuesday’s visit was meant to focus, in part, on organizations that support American veterans.
Maj. Adolfo Espuelas Jr.. an infantry officer from the Philippines, said it was illuminating to see the respect Americans show for their fallen soldiers.
“I noticed that the American people, the farther they have gone through civilization, the more concerned they are about remembering the past and the past sacrifices of their ancestors,” Espuelas said. “That’s an admirable trait. ... It provides continuity, to ensure that a younger generation will serve their country because of their understanding of their legacy.
“Nationalism and patriotism have been established.”
This is the fourth year that the staff college has sent a group to Emporia.
“It amazes me every time,” said veteran Frank Lowery, who showed the class around the All Veterans Memorial. “It’s been hot every year and most of these guys are in long sleeves, many in jackets. They don’t act the least bit uncomfortable. It’s just another day at the office for them.”
Australian Maj. Jason Ross is used to hot spots. Before coming to the states, he was with his nation’s special forces in Iraq, helping to train Iraqi troops.
It’s been interesting, he said, to see some of the thinking that lay behind the war’s beginning. But his impression of the United States already had been good after seeing American officers in action.
“The most surprising thing, I would say, is the professionalism of American officers,” Ross said. “They are extremely dedicated to the war. Considering the frequency with which they go back on operations, it amazes me how long they can muster that professionalism.
“They just want to keep on, do their job and then get out of Iraq.”
During the visit to the American Legion, a veterans’ association that dates back to 1919, some officers mentioned support organizations in their own countries, such as the district soldiers’ boards of India.
Israeli infantry Lt. Col. Royee Beary said his own country didn’t have organizations along the lines of the Legion, but that every city had a Yad Lebanim memorial center, which listed the names of local soldiers who had died in wars. The name means “Hand for the Boys.”
“There’s a big wall with names, similar to the (Vietnam Memorial) Wall in Washington, D.C.,” Beary said. “And there’s kind of a museum or big house in each city with an eternal candle to the memory of the soldiers.”
The officers continued on to Wichita after lunch and then to the Eisenhower Center in Abilene. Other trips will expose them to different levels of U.S. government, the court system, business world and American schools.
“We want them to learn more about America than they would get in a classroom,” Barber said.