Transit Center Airmen participate in 'First Bell' ceremonies

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Tammie Moore
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  First graders with eager and nervous faces lined school yards across the Kyrgyz Republic waiting for the youngest student in their school to ring "First Bell" and start their school year Sept. 1.

The Russian tradition takes place each year in the Kyrgyz Republic on the first day of school and involves the school director, teachers, students, parents and community leadership. The ceremony concludes when the oldest child in the school carries the youngest child who rings a bell symbolizing the start of the new school year.

Airmen from the Transit Center visited nine area schools to participate in this year's First Bell ceremonies. The schools included the American Pilot School, Razdolnoya School, Grozd High School and Jany Jehr High School.

"We are very happy to have you here," said Djoldsohaliev Djoldoshalievich, Razdolnoya School director. "The students are happy to see you because you do projects here." In August, Airmen at the Transit Center assisted school officials with the repair of the school's roof.

At some schools the ceremonies included traditional and modern dances by the students, poetry readings and a march of the first graders across the school grounds. The events also included words of encouragement to the students from school officials and Airmen from the Transit Center.

"It is a great honor for us to participate with you in such an important event," said Col. Philip Greco, 376th Expeditionary Maintenance Group commander, during the ceremony at Razdolnoya School. "I wish you every success in the future."

Lt. Col. Robert Ricker, commander of the 376th Operations Support Squadron, attended the Grozd High School First Bell ceremony.

"To the first year students, what you learn in the next several years will shape who you become," he told the students gathered at the school. "Listen to your teachers and learn well. You are the future of the Kyrgyz Republic."

Ricker said the ceremony was the highlight of his tour here so far. Following the ceremonies students had a chance to interact with the Airmen.

"It was an opportunity to ask any question they wanted and hear about music, to hear about boys, to hear about school and to ask political questions which I thought were all great," said Col. James Jacobson, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander.

Jacobson attended the American Pilot School's First Bell ceremony.

"This is one of the great things the Transit Center can do in its spare time to further the relations with Kyrgyzstan (and create) a better understanding among these great students of what it is to be an American," Jacobson said.