FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Mid-September in Baghdad, Iraq, the temperature climbed above 100 degrees. The sun beat down on all those awaiting the opening of a swimming pool in the Risalah neighborhood of the Rashid district in southern Baghdad. The children, already in their swimming trunks, were anxious to jump into the water and cool off.

The mood was festive and the adults involved in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a newly restored pool Sep. 18 carried with them a sense of pride and accomplishment as their children splashed into the cool, clear water.

“Many workers spent long hours repairing and refurbishing this pool,” Sheik Abu Sabah pointed out. Saba is an influential religious leader in the Risallah community, who helped to make the re-opening of the pool a reality.

Capt. Kyle Johnston, commander of Company B, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, attached to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, responsible for Coalition Forces’ operations in the Risalah area of western Rashid’s Risalah community, shared his thoughts on the pool and what it signifies.

“Above all else, this signifies a continuing return to normalcy,” said Johnston, who hails from Woodbine, Md. “The pool is opened again, the concertina wire is being removed from streets and neighborhoods, and barriers which are no longer necessary are being removed.”

Johnston said he was excited about reaching yet another milestone in the effort to restore a better standard of living for Iraqi residents in the area that his company maintains with the help of Iraqi Security Forces.

“Sunnis make up the majority of the neighborhoods south of here. Shia families inhabit most of the neighborhoods to the North, and this pool sits in a mixed area in-between,” he continued.

He also said he was happy to see improvement which involved both sides of the area involved in the reconstruction efforts.

Several members of both ISF and Coalition Forces were present to show support for the opening of the pool.

Lt. Col. Johnnie Johnson, commander of 4th Bn., 64th Armor Regt., attended the event to congratulate those who had worked to make the project a success and celebrate the completion of the pool’s repair.

“This event today is a sign of your hard work and sacrifice. That is appreciated by everyone here,” Johnson said to Sheik Abu Sabah.

“This is an excellent accomplishment, and now it’s time for the next step,” he added. “There are many improvements that need to be made in the living areas surrounding us here. Now is the time to work with the people.”

Although he encouraged the sheik to continue improving the region, Johnson took time to remind Sabah that his cooperation and assistance has already done a great deal to improve the community.

As the ceremony and conversing drew to a close, Iraqi media outlets as well as many of the ISF began to leave the pool area. The children remained in the pool with a few parents there looking onward. The crowd dispersed and the children continued happily splashing around in the late morning sun.