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Romanian military treats 458th AEG to May Day picnic

USAFE News Service

Release Date: 09 May 2003

By Master Sgt. Ron Tull, 458th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE, Romania (USAFENS) -- Americans deployed here have been learning a lot lately about Romanian holidays. May 1 was no exception. On the heals of Orthodox Christian Easter came May Day.

If a Romanian Easter seemed like Thanksgiving and Christmas combined, May Day was the equivalent of our Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day rolled into one.

Nearly one hundred Americans were invited guests of the Romanian Ministry of Defense at a May Day celebration that will not soon be forgotten by either the Americans or Romanians.

"We were looking at you guys working and realizing that you had no time to partake of the Romanian culture and meet Romanians," said Romanian Army Maj. Daniel Anghel. "It was a good opportunity for us to meet in an informal posture and meet our families; also to just be humans."

The first of May used to be a communist socialist celebration and what remains is just the best part according to Anghel.

The picnic took place at a military reservation just outside of Constanta called Valu lui Traian. 458th personnel were met with a military fanfare played by the Navy Headquarters Band as they stepped down from their buses.

The food was served in three courses, beginning with a very traditional dish of fried fish from the Black Sea and a meat loaf made of lamb's meat and liver. But it was the mouth-watering scent of meat cooking over an open flame that announced the second course, Mititei.

Mititei meatballs, made from ground lamb, pork and beef, are a Romanian tradition for this holiday, much like hamburgers are for American cookouts. But, they're not hamburgers. Our Romanian hosts smiled as we put them between bread rolls and ate them this way. "It doesn't matter how you enjoy them as long as you eat a lot of them," said Anghel.

Between courses the comradarie grew, as 458th members were encouraged to show their musical talents. First Lt. Ryan Wood stepped forward to play "America the Beautiful" on the trumpet. Then everyone danced as the band played traditional Romanian folk music.

"I was surprised to see how fast the Americans learned the Brasoveanca (pronounced Brashovanka) dance," said Gabriela Curt, 458th Public Affairs Romanian translator.

"It was my favorite part of the picnic. We normally only dance this at weddings. It was good to show you something so traditional," Curt said. "It's the first time I've celebrated anything with Americans. I think I will always remember this May Day."

Col. Steven Dryer, 458th AEG commander, then presented an American flag to the host of the event, Brig. Gen. Constantin Zeca Commander of the 9th Operational Command, as a token of thanks for the hospitality and cooperation of the Romanian people.

"This was another example of the good cooperation between Americans and Romanians, not only on the military field but also on the social side," Zeca said. "Our families thought it was a very nice thing that you interacted with them. They could tell also that you miss your families," he said.

Anghel has trained with the U.S. military at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas and Fort Meade, Md. and is a veteran of many international gatherings. "This is the best military barbeque I have ever attended," he said. "Americans and Romanians get along perfectly."

It's apparent that the American presence has had an impact on our Romanian hosts. "I'm going to cry when you leave, I know for sure I'm going to cry," said Curt. "You are all so kind to us and to each other."