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2nd Brigade Combat Team Soldiers participate in the annual D-Series competition at Fort Drum, New York on February 11, 2021. The Soldiers performed a variety of tactical tasks along a course more than six miles long. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Jessica George)
Rangers from A Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, conducts live fire and night operation and Fast Rope Insertion and Extractions (FRIES) training during 2nd Battalion’s Task Force Training at Yakima Training Center, Washington, 04 April 2013. (U.S. Army photo by SGT Mikki Sprenkle) Released by LTC Brian DeSantis, Regimental Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 178th Engineer Battalion, 59th Troop Command, South Carolina National Guard, utilize their protective mask at the gas chamber while conducting mission essential tasks during annual training at Fort Stewart, Georgia, June 8, 2019. Training also included convoy movement and first aid and buddy care. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Brian Calhoun, 108th Public Affairs Detachment)
http:/www.usaraf.army.mil
By Troy Darr
Public Affairs Officer
Joint Task Force-East
NOVO SELO, Bulgaria — U.S. and Bulgarian military personnel joined together for two symbolic ceremonies Sept. 27 and 28 as exercise Lion Strike came to an end.
First, Joint Task Force-East celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a humanitarian project at a kindergarten in Mokren, Bulgaria. Eleven U.S. Navy personnel from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40, otherwise known as SeaBees, finished an extensive renovation of the school during the exercise.
The children from the school, along with parents, teachers, school director, local officials and U.S. and Bulgarian military personnel, crowded the small courtyard during the ceremony.
"We say in the United States that the children are our future," said Army Lt. Col. Bruce Sones, commanding officer for JTF-E "Lion Strike".
"We hope through the efforts of those involved in this project that the improved environment created for teaching the children will contribute to the children's development as they grow and become leaders in your society."
The school director, Margarita Nicolova, thanked the SeaBees and then presented them with a picture painted by the children, a CD of Bulgarian folk music, a photo of the children and a glass vial filled with Bulgarian soil.
Of the soil, she said, "Wherever you go, you know you'll have a piece of Bulgaria with you."
The school children then sang several songs for the audience and the ribbon was cut. But, there was another surprise for the children, a HMMWV full of gifts. All of the soldiers, sailors and airmen participating in the exercise had contributed money to buy much-needed school supplies and educational toys for the school.
"We will maintain what you have done, and promise to continue with improvements," said Emil Enchev, mayor of Mokren. "Hopefully we will continue working together in the future."
The next day, all JTF-E "Lion Strike" participants, both U.S. and Bulgarian, came together again, this time to commemorate the end of the exercise during the closing ceremony.
During the ceremony Sones and Col. Biser Kalinov, chief of Training, Bulgarian Land Forces, presented certificates of achievement to 14 U.S. Soldiers and 16 Bulgarian soldiers for their efforts during the exercise.
"During this training, we had the opportunity to gain military experience from the leading force in NATO - the United States Military, and to show that while representing a small army, the Bulgarian officers, Non-commissioned officers and soldiers are honorable partners and excellent professionals," said Kalinov, who spoke first during the ceremony.
He was followed by Sones, who echoed Kalinov's feelings.
"This closing ceremony does not mark the end of a training opportunity or a farewell to relationships fostered," said Sones.
"In our minds, it marks the hopeful commencement of future training opportunities to be conducted between our nations."
"We can truly say the professionalism and generosity of the Bulgarian Land Forces is unrivaled," he continued.
"We know the strong relationship between the United States and Bulgaria, as demonstrated during this exercise, will continue to grow, and we look forward to training and serving with you in the years to come."
NEW YORK, NY - Soldiers and Airmen with Joint Task Force Empire Shield take part in first aid training led by SSgt. Elisha Rendal, 106th Rescue Wing Medical Group, before moving on to their assigned patrol areas on Dec 23, 2014 in their facility at JFK airport.
New York Air National Guard airmen, including over forty from the 106th Rescue Wing, are currently activated by the state to take part in Joint Task Force Empire Shield.
Joint Task Force Empire Shield’s primary goal is to detect, deter, and prevent potential terrorist operations in the New York City Metropolitan Area. Security operations are implemented daily through pre-planned programs using a random and strategic methodology. Joint Task Force Empire Shield is designed to respond to a wide range of incidents. By developing a highly trained force in incident response and command, the Task Force prepares for domestic emergencies caused by humans or natural phenomena using lessons learned and best practices.
Airmen, working alongside Army National Guard soldiers, patrol areas around New York City, including JFK Airport, Penn Station, and the World Trade Center.
(New York Air National Guard / Staff Sergeant Christopher S Muncy / released)
Rangers from A Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, conducts live fire and night operation and Fast Rope Insertion and Extractions (FRIES) training during 2nd Battalion’s Task Force Training at Yakima Training Center, Washington, 04 April 2013. (U.S. Army photo by SGT Mikki Sprenkle) Released by LTC Brian DeSantis, Regimental Public Affairs Officer
Chitragupta is a Hindu god assigned with the task of keeping complete records of actions of human beings on the earth. Upon their death, Chitragupta has the task of deciding heaven or the hell for the humans, depending on their actions on the earth.
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The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a group of Hindu and Jain temples in Madhya Pradesh, India. About 175 kilometres southeast of Jhansi, they are one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. The temples are famous for their nagara-style architectural symbolism and their erotic sculptures.
Most Khajuraho temples were built between 950 and 1050 CE by the Chandela dynasty. Historical records note that Khajuraho temple site had 85 temples by 12th century, spread over 20 square kilometers. Of these, only about 20 temples have survived, spread over 6 square kilometers. Of the various surviving temples, the Kandariya temple is decorated with a profusion of sculptures with intricate details, symbolism and expressiveness of ancient Indian art.
The Khajuraho group of temples were built together but were dedicated to two religions namely Hinduism and Jainism - suggesting a tradition of acceptance and respect for diverse religious views among Hindus and Jains.
LOCATION
Khajuraho group of monuments are located in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, in Chhatarpur District, about 620 kilometres southeast of New Delhi. The temples are in a small town also known as Khajuraho, with a population of about 20,000 people (2001 Census).
Khajuraho is served by Khajuraho Airport (IATA Code: HJR), with services to Delhi, Agra and Mumbai. The site is also linked by Indian Railways service, with the railway station approximately six kilometer from the monuments entrance.
The monuments are about 10 kilometres off the east-west National Highway 75, and about 50 kilometres from the city of Chhatarpur, that is connected to Bhopal - the state capital - by the SW-NE running National Highway 86.
HISTORY
The Khajuraho group of monuments were built during the rule of Rajput Chandela dynasty. The building activity started almost immediately after the rise of their power, throughout their kingdom to be later known as Bundelkhand. Most temples were built during the reigns of the Hindu kings Yashovarman and Dhanga. Yashovarman's legacy is best exhibited by Lakshmana temple. Vishvanatha temple best highlights King Dhanga's reign.:22 The largest and currently most famous surviving temple is Kandariya Mahadeva built in the reign of King Ganda from 1017-1029 CE. The temple inscriptions suggest many of the currently surviving temples were complete between 970 to 1030 CE, with few more temples completed in decades thereafter.
The Khajuraho temples were built about 35 miles from the medieval city of Mahoba, the capital of Chandela dynasty, in Kalinjar region. In ancient and medieval literature, their kingdom has been called Jijhoti, Jejahoti, Chih-chi-to and Jejakabhukti.
Khajuraho were mentioned by Abu Rihan-al-Biruni, the Persian historian who accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni in his raid of Kalinjar in 1022 CE; he mentions Khajuraho as the capital of Jajahuti. The raid was unsuccessful, and a peace accord was reached when the Hindu king agreed to pay a ransom to Mahmud of Ghazni to end the attack and leave.
Khajuraho temples were in active use through the end of 12th century. This changed in the 13th century, after the army of Delhi Sultanate, under the command of the Muslim Sultan Qutb-ud-din Aibak, attacked and seized the Chandela kingdom. About a century later, Ibn Battuta, the Moroccan traveller in his memoirs about his stay in India from 1335 to 1342 CE, mentioned visiting Khajuraho temples, calling them “Kajarra” as follows:
...near (Khajuraho) temples, which contain idols that have been mutilated by the Moslems, live a number of yogis whose matted locks have grown as long as their bodies. And on account of extreme asceticism they are all yellow in colour. Many Moslems attend these men in order to take lessons (yoga) from them.
— Ibn Battuta, about 1335 CE, Riḥlat Ibn Baṭūṭah, Translated by Arthur Cotterell
Central Indian region, where Khajuraho temples are, remained in the control of many different Muslim dynasties from 13th century through the 18th century. In this period, some temples were desecrated, followed by a long period when they were left in neglect. In 1495 CE, for example, Sikandar Lodi’s campaign of temple destruction included Khajuraho. The remoteness and isolation of Khajuraho protected the Hindu and Jain temples from continued destruction by Muslims. Over the centuries, vegetation and forests overgrew, took over the temples.
In the 1830s, local Hindus guided a British surveyor, T.S. Burt, to the temples and they were thus rediscovered by the global audience. Alexander Cunningham later reported, few years after the rediscovery, that the temples were secretly in use by yogis and thousands of Hindus would arrive for pilgrimage during Shivaratri celebrated annually in February or March based on a lunar calendar. In 1852, Maisey prepared earliest drawings of the Khajuraho temples.
NOMENCLATURE
The name Khajuraho, or Kharjuravāhaka, is derived from ancient Sanskrit (kharjura, खर्जूर means date palm, and vāhaka, वाहक means "one who carries" or bearer). Local legends state that the temples had two golden date-palm trees as their gate (missing when they were rediscovered). Desai states that Kharjuravāhaka also means scorpion bearer, which is another symbolic name for deity Shiva (who wears snakes and scorpion garlands in his fierce form).
Cunningham’s nomenclature and systematic documentation work in 1850s and 1860s have been widely adopted and continue to be in use. He grouped the temples into the Western group around Lakshmana, Eastern group around Javeri, and Southern group around Duladeva.
Khajuraho is one of the four holy sites linked to deity Shiva (the other three are Kedarnath, Kashi and Gaya). Its origin and design is a subject of scholarly studies. Shobita Punja has proposed that the temple’s origin reflect the Hindu mythology in which Khajuraho is the place where Shiva got married; with Raghuvamsha verse 5.53, Matangeshvara honoring ‘’Matanga’’, or god of love.
DESCRIPTION
The temple site is within Vindhya mountain range in central India. An ancient local legend held that Hindu deity Shiva and other gods enjoyed visiting the dramatic hill formation in Kalinjar area. The center of this region is Khajuraho, set midst local hills and rivers. The temple complex reflects the ancient Hindu tradition of building temples where gods love to play.
The temples are clustered near water, another typical feature of Hindu temples. The current water bodies include Sib Sagar, Khajur Sagar (also called Ninora Tal) and Khudar Nadi (river). The local legends state that the temple complex had 64 water bodies, of which 56 have been physically identified by archeologists so far.
All temples, except one (Chaturbhuja) face sunrise - another symbolic feature that is predominant in Hindu temples. The relative layout of temples integrate masculine and feminine deities and symbols highlight the interdependence. The art work symbolically highlight the four goals of life considered necessary and proper in Hinduism - dharma, kama, artha and moksha.
Of the surviving temples, 6 are dedicated to Shiva and his consorts, 8 to Vishnu and his affinities, 1 to Ganesha, 1 to Sun god, 3 to Jain Tirthanks. For some ruins, there is insufficient evidence to assign the temple to specific deities with confidence.
An overall examination of site suggests that the Hindu symbolic mandala design principle of square and circles is present each temple plan and design. Further, the territory is laid out in three triangles that converge to form a pentagon. Scholars suggest that this reflects the Hindu symbolism for three realms or trilokinatha, and five cosmic substances or panchbhuteshvara. The temple site highlights Shiva, the one who destroys and recycles life, thereby controlling the cosmic dance of time, evolution and dissolution.
The temples have a rich display of intricately carved statues. While they are famous for their erotic sculpture, sexual themes cover less than 10% of the temple sculpture. Further, most erotic scene panels are neither prominent nor emphasized at the expense of the rest, rather they are in proportional balance with the non-sexual images. The viewer has to look closely to find them, or be directed by a guide. The arts cover numerous aspects of human life and values considered important in Hindu pantheon. Further, the images are arranged in a configuration to express central ideas of Hinduism. All three ideas from Āgamas are richly expressed in Khajuraho temples - Avyakta, Vyaktavyakta and Vyakta.
The Beejamandal temple is under excavation. It has been identified with the Vaidyanath temple mentioned in the Grahpati Kokalla inscription.
Of all temples, the Matangeshvara temple remains an active site of worship. It is another square grid temple, with a large 2.5 metres high and 1.1 metres diameter lingam, placed on a 7.6 metres diameter platform.
The most visited temple, Kandariya Mahadev, has an area of about 6,500 square feet and a shikhara (spire) that rise
s 116 feet.
Jain templesThe Jain temples are located on east-southeast region of Khajuraho monuments. Chausath jogini temple features 64 jogini, while Ghantai temple features bells sculptured on its pillars.
ARCHITECTURE OF THE TEMPLES
Khajuraho temples, like almost all Hindu temple designs, follow a grid geometrical design called vastu-purusha-mandala. This design plan has three important components - Mandala means circle, Purusha is universal essence at the core of Hindu tradition, while Vastu means the dwelling structure.
The design lays out a Hindu temple in a symmetrical, concentrically layered, self-repeating structure around the core of the temple called garbhagriya, where the abstract principle Purusha and the primary deity of the temple dwell. The shikhara, or spire, of the temple rises above the garbhagriya. This symmetry and structure in design is derived from central beliefs, myths, cardinality and mathematical principles.
The circle of mandala circumscribe the square. The square is considered divine for its perfection and as a symbolic product of knowledge and human thought, while circle is considered earthly, human and observed in everyday life (moon, sun, horizon, water drop, rainbow). Each supports the other. The square is divided into perfect 64 sub-squares called padas.
Most Khajuraho temples deploy the 8x8 padas grid Manduka Vastupurushamandala, with pitha mandala the square grid incorporated in the design of the spires. The primary deity or lingas are located in the grid’s Brahma padas.The architecture is symbolic and reflects the central Hindu beliefs through its form, structure and arrangement of its parts. The mandapas as well as the arts are arranged in the Khajuraho temples in a symmetric repeating patterns, even though each image or sculpture is distinctive in its own way. The relative placement of the images are not random but together they express ideas, just like connected words form sentences and paragraphs to compose ideas. This fractal pattern that is common in Hindu temples. Various statues and panels have inscriptions. Many of the inscriptions on the temple walls are poems with double meanings, something that the complex structure of Sanskrit allows in creative compositions. All Khajuraho temples, except one, face sunrise, and the entrance for the devotee is this east side.
Above the vastu-purusha-mandala of each temple is a superstructure with a dome called Shikhara (or Vimana, Spire). Variations in spire design come from variation in degrees turned for the squares. The temple Shikhara, in some literature, is linked to mount Kailash or Meru, the mythical abode of the gods.
In each temple, the central space typically is surrounded by an ambulatory for the pilgrim to walk around and ritually circumambulate the Purusa and the main deity. The pillars, walls and ceilings around the space, as well as outside have highly ornate carvings or images of the four just and necessary pursuits of life - kama, artha, dharma and moksa. This clockwise walk around is called pradakshina.
Larger Khajuraho temples also have pillared halls called mandapa. One near the entrance, on the east side, serves as the waiting room for pilgrims and devotees. The mandapas are also arranged by principles of symmetry, grids and mathematical precision. This use of same underlying architectural principle is common in Hindu temples found all over India. Each Khajuraho temple is distinctly carved yet also repeating the central common principles in almost all Hindu temples, one which Susan Lewandowski refers to as “an organism of repeating cells”.
CONSTRUCTION
The temples are grouped into three geographical divisions: western, eastern and southern.
The Khajuraho temples are made of sandstone, with a granite foundation that is almost concealed from view. The builders didn't use mortar: the stones were put together with mortise and tenon joints and they were held in place by gravity. This form of construction requires very precise joints. The columns and architraves were built with megaliths that weighed up to 20 tons. Some repair work in the 19th Century was done with brick and mortar; however these have aged faster than original materials and darkened with time, thereby seeming out of place.
The Khajuraho and Kalinjar region is home to superior quality of sandstone, which can be precision carved. The surviving sculpture reflect fine details such as strands of hair, manicured nails and intricate jewelry.
While recording the television show Lost Worlds (History Channel) at Khajuraho, Alex Evans recreated a stone sculpture under 4 feet that took about 60 days to carve in an attempt to develop a rough idea how much work must have been involved. Roger Hopkins and Mark Lehner also conducted experiments to quarry limestone which took 12 quarrymen 22 days to quarry about 400 tons of stone. They concluded that these temples would have required hundreds of highly trained sculptors.
CHRONOLOGY
The Khajuraho group of temples belong to Vaishnavism school of Hinduism, Saivism school of Hinduism and Jainism - nearly a third each. Archaeological studies suggest all three types of temples were under construction at about the same time in late 10th century, and in use simultaneously. Will Durant states that this aspect of Khajuraho temples illustrates the tolerance and respect for different religious viewpoints in the Hindu and Jain traditions. In each group of Khajuraho temples, there were major temples surrounded by smaller temples - a grid style that is observed to varying degrees in Hindu temples in Angkor Wat, Parambaran and South India.
The largest surviving Saiva temple is Khandarya Mahadeva, while the largest surviving Vaishnava group includes Chaturbhuja and Ramachandra.
Kandarya Mahadeva temple plan is 109 ft in length by 60 ft, and rises 116 ft above ground and 88 ft above its own floor. The central padas are surrounded by three rows of sculptured figures, with over 870 statues, most being half life size (2.5 to 3 feet). The spire is a self repeating fractal structure.
TEMPLE NAME - DEITY - YEAR COMPLETED
Chausath Yogini - Devi, 64 Yoginis - 885
Brahma - Vishnu - 925
Lalgun Mahadev - Shiva - 900
Matangeshwar - Shiva - 1000
Varaha - Vishnu - 950
Lakshmana - Vaikuntha Vishnu - 939
Parshvanath - Parshvanath - 954
Visvanatha - Shiva - 999
Devi Jagadambi - Devi, Parvati - 1023
Chitragupta - Sun, Chitragupta - 1023
Kandariya Mahadeva - Shiva - 1029
Vamana - Vamana - 1062
Adinath Jain Temple - Rishabha - 1027
Javeri - Vishnu - 1090
Chaturbhuja - Vishnu - 1110
Duladeo (Duladeva) - Shiva - 1125
Ghantai - Jain Tirthankara - 960
Vishnu-Garuda - Vishnu - 1000
Ganesha - Shiva - 1000
Hanuman - Hanuman - 922
Mahishasuramardini - Devi - 995
ARTS AND SCULPTURE
The Khajuraho temples feature a variety of art work, of which 10% is sexual or erotic art outside and inside the temples. Some of the temples that have two layers of walls have small erotic carvings on the outside of the inner wall. Some scholars suggest these to be tantric sexual practices. Other scholars state that the erotic arts are part of Hindu tradition of treating kama as an essential and proper part of human life, and its symbolic or explicit display is common in Hindu temples. James McConnachie, in his history of the Kamasutra, describes the sexual-themed Khajuraho sculptures as "the apogee of erotic art":
"Twisting, broad-hipped and high breasted nymphs display their generously contoured and bejewelled bodies on exquisitely worked exterior wall panels. These fleshy apsaras run riot across the surface of the stone, putting on make-up, washing their hair, playing games, dancing, and endlessly knotting and unknotting their girdles . . Beside the heavenly nymphs are serried ranks of griffins, guardian deities and, most notoriously, extravagantly interlocked maithunas, or lovemaking couples."
The temples have several thousand statues and art works, with Kandarya Mahadeva temple alone decorated with over 870. Some 10% of these iconographic carvings contain sexual themes and various sexual poses. A common misconception is that, since the old structures with carvings in Khajuraho are temples, the carvings depict sex between deities; however the kama arts represent diverse sexual expressions of different human beings. The vast majority of arts depict various aspects the everyday life, mythical stories as well as symbolic display of various secular and spiritual values important in Hindu tradition. For example, depictions show women putting on makeup, musicians making music, potters, farmers, and other folks in their daily life during the medieval era. These scenes are in the outer padas as is typical in Hindu temples.
There is iconographic symbolism embedded in the arts displayed in Khajuraho temples. Core Hindu values are expressed in multitude of ways. Even the Kama scenes, when seen in combination of sculptures that precede and follow, depict the spiritual themes such as moksha. In the words of Stella Kramrisch,
This state which is “like a man and woman in close embrace” is a symbol of moksa, final release or reunion of two principles, the essence (Purusha) and the nature (Prakriti).
— Stella Kramrisch, 1976
The Khajuraho temples represent one expression of many forms of arts that flourished in Rajput kingdoms of India from 8th through 10th century CE. For example, contemporary with Khajuraho were the publications of poems and drama such as Prabodhacandrodaya, Karpuramanjari, Viddhasalabhanjika and Kavyamimansa. Some of the themes expressed in these literary works are carved as sculpture in Khajuraho temples. Some sculptures at the Khajuraho monuments dedicated to Vishnu include the Vyalas, which are hybrid imaginary animals with lions body, and are found in other Indian temples. Some of these hybrid mythical art work include Vrik Vyala (hybrid of wolf and lion) and Gaja Vyala (hybrid of elephant and lion). These Vyalas may represent syncretic, creative combination of powers innate in the two.
TOURISM AND CULTURAL EVENTS
The temples in Khajuraho are broadly divided into three parts : the Eastern group, the Southern Group and the Western group of temples of which the Western group alone has the facility of an Audio guided tour wherein the tourists are guided through the seven eight temples. There is also an audio guided tour developed by the Archaeological Survey of India which includes a narration of the temple history and architecture.
The Khajuraho Dance Festival is held every year in February. It features various classical Indian dances set against the backdrop of the Chitragupta or Vishwanath Temples.
The Khajuraho temple complex offers a light and sound show every evening. The first show is in English language and the second one in Hindi. It is held in the open lawns in the temple complex, and has received mixed reviews.
The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development has set up kiosks at the Khajuraho railway station, with tourist officers to provide information for Khajuraho visitors.
WIKIPEDIA
When I hit task manager in Windows XP SP2 I get this now. I don't know how to get rid of it or go back to my normal task manager window. Help
This is a Malie Tasker Monster High Novi Star hybrid I made. Check out her video here. ---> www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLE2DsRDzFM
Task Force Leader Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division conduct training for the Call for Fire Lane during Cadet Field Training, May 31, 2022. (U.S. Army Photo by Michelle Matos)
Thursday, October 20, 2016 -- Governor Dannel P. Malloy ceremonial bill signing of Public Act 16-41, An Act Concerning the Recommendations of the Minority Teacher Recruitment Task Force.
Rangers from A Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, conducts live fire and night operation and Fast Rope Insertion and Extractions (FRIES) training during 2nd Battalion’s Task Force Training at Yakima Training Center, Washington, 04 April 2013. (U.S. Army photo by SGT Mikki Sprenkle) Released by LTC Brian DeSantis, Regimental Public Affairs Officer
By Troy Darr
Public Affairs Officer
Joint Task Force-East
NOVO SELO, Bulgaria — U.S. and Bulgarian military personnel joined together for two symbolic ceremonies Sept. 27 and 28 as exercise Lion Strike came to an end.
First, Joint Task Force-East celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a humanitarian project at a kindergarten in Mokren, Bulgaria. Eleven U.S. Navy personnel from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40, otherwise known as SeaBees, finished an extensive renovation of the school during the exercise.
The children from the school, along with parents, teachers, school director, local officials and U.S. and Bulgarian military personnel, crowded the small courtyard during the ceremony.
"We say in the United States that the children are our future," said Army Lt. Col. Bruce Sones, commanding officer for JTF-E "Lion Strike".
"We hope through the efforts of those involved in this project that the improved environment created for teaching the children will contribute to the children's development as they grow and become leaders in your society."
The school director, Margarita Nicolova, thanked the SeaBees and then presented them with a picture painted by the children, a CD of Bulgarian folk music, a photo of the children and a glass vial filled with Bulgarian soil.
Of the soil, she said, "Wherever you go, you know you'll have a piece of Bulgaria with you."
The school children then sang several songs for the audience and the ribbon was cut. But, there was another surprise for the children, a HMMWV full of gifts. All of the soldiers, sailors and airmen participating in the exercise had contributed money to buy much-needed school supplies and educational toys for the school.
"We will maintain what you have done, and promise to continue with improvements," said Emil Enchev, mayor of Mokren. "Hopefully we will continue working together in the future."
The next day, all JTF-E "Lion Strike" participants, both U.S. and Bulgarian, came together again, this time to commemorate the end of the exercise during the closing ceremony.
During the ceremony Sones and Col. Biser Kalinov, chief of Training, Bulgarian Land Forces, presented certificates of achievement to 14 U.S. Soldiers and 16 Bulgarian soldiers for their efforts during the exercise.
"During this training, we had the opportunity to gain military experience from the leading force in NATO - the United States Military, and to show that while representing a small army, the Bulgarian officers, Non-commissioned officers and soldiers are honorable partners and excellent professionals," said Kalinov, who spoke first during the ceremony.
He was followed by Sones, who echoed Kalinov's feelings.
"This closing ceremony does not mark the end of a training opportunity or a farewell to relationships fostered," said Sones.
"In our minds, it marks the hopeful commencement of future training opportunities to be conducted between our nations."
"We can truly say the professionalism and generosity of the Bulgarian Land Forces is unrivaled," he continued.
"We know the strong relationship between the United States and Bulgaria, as demonstrated during this exercise, will continue to grow, and we look forward to training and serving with you in the years to come."
Having cut back the top end of the garden, it was now time to do the same at the bottom.
The sad fact is that we will have to do this all again in 12 months time. Still what else have we to occupy our time with?
In the mix are cuttings from the lemon trees, the nisporo tree, lantana, honeysuckle and bougainvillea.
Canon 5D MkII with Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens.
Marissa was one of my problem models - the problem being is she is just so photogenic it was very hard trying to decide what photos to post here!
We shot with Marissa during one of our group photo shoots at the Alaska Botanical Garden in Anchorage, Alaska in July 2010. This is a great place to shoot - especially when everything is green.
Marissa is a budding model and college student. I was more nervous than her at the beginning of the shoot but got over it. She is a blast to shoot with - a little bit on the quiet side but very creative, extremely photogenic, and she had some lovely outfits with her. This was a very good shoot and we followed it up with another one the following week - life is good!
This was a brief set by Leeds college of art and design as part of the interview process. I had to create 4 designs incorporating 4 different symbols - warning, speech bubble, thought bubble and heart.
Rangers from A Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, conducts live fire and night operation and Fast Rope Insertion and Extractions (FRIES) training during 2nd Battalion’s Task Force Training at Yakima Training Center, Washington, 04 April 2013. (U.S. Army photo by SGT Mikki Sprenkle) Released by LTC Brian DeSantis
Rangers from A Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, conducts live fire and night operation and Fast Rope Insertion and Extractions (FRIES) training during 2nd Battalion’s Task Force Training at Yakima Training Center, Washington, 04 April 2013. (U.S. Army photo by SGT Mikki Sprenkle) Released by LTC Brian DeSantis
Spc. Philip Geiger, a combat engineer soldier from the North Dakota National Guard's 818th Engineer Company, Task Force Warhammer, constructs a dismounted mine detection lane with assistance from his Afghan National Army counterparts from 1st Brigade, 215th Corps. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Christopher Berentson, Task Force Warhammer).
Digitised image from the Town Hall Photographer's Collection - GB127.M850.
The Town Hall Photographer’s Collection is a large photographic collection held in Manchester City Council’s Central Library archives, ranging in date from 1956 to 2007.
The collection consists of tens of thousands of images, covering the varied areas of work of Manchester Corporation and latterly, Manchester City Council.
The photographs were taken by staff photographers, who were tasked to document the work of Corporation/Council departments and, in doing so, captured many aspects of Manchester life and history, including significant changes to the Manchester landscape.
The collection includes many different formats from glass negatives, to slides, prints, CDs and even a couple of cine films.
What is especially exciting is that the majority of these images have never before been available in a digital format and therefore have only ever been seen by a handful of people.
A team of dedicated Staff and Volunteers are currently working on the systematic digitisation of the negatives held within the collection.
This album represents the result of their work to date.