RIGA, Latvia -- Small children gathered along the yellow metal barricades, their faces poking through the bars to get a closer look. Whether young, old or in between, people pressed in for a closer view of the president and the troops.
It is a scene that transcends nations. On this day, it depicted Independence day in Latvia, a celebration for the Baltic state, which originally declared its sovereignty in a theater in 1918. On this day, 96 years ago, a people that had yet to become a nation created something they could call their own.
Soldiers from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, stood among troops from Latvia and Norway to march shoulder-to-shoulder with their NATO allies.
"It's about building relationships with the Latvians," said Maj. Michael Scahill, executive officer for Maj. Gen. Mark. T. McQueen, the deputy commanding general of mobility and reserve affairs, headquarters U.S. Army Europe.
Latvian President Andris B?rzi?? reviewed the assembled troops on Krasta Iela here, before the parade commenced.
Martial music filled the air as line after line of Latvian, Norwegian and U.S. troops, along with other NATO allies, passed by the review stand, followed by Latvian first responders and military and emergency equipment.
First Sgt. Thomas Thornhill, of 2nd Bn., 8th Cav. Regt., said he felt being there to show support for a NATO ally was an extremely good thing to be doing.
Members of the Michigan National Guard served as the U.S. Color Guard. According to Master Sgt. Joseph F. Battisfore, the continuing relationship between the guardsmen and the Latvians benefitted the National Guard as much as their hosts.
"We have been working with the Latvians in a partnership for the last 20 years," said Battisfore.
"The parade provides an opportunity for our soldiers to interact with the people of Latvia and demonstrate our support and dedication to NATO," said 2nd Lt. Joshua Fox, of 2nd Bn., 8th Cav. Regt. "This builds solidarity between the U.S. and Latvian military."
As the parade passed, crowds followed behind the parade toward the Freedom Monument in Riga, a woman with outstretched arms holding three stars representing the Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
Latvian civilians mingled with dignitaries from the U.S. military, asking to get their pictures taken with the soldiers as a souvenir.
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