Capt. Henry Delacruz, commander of Bravo Company, Task Force 1-77 Armor, with Balad Mayor Fawsi and city officials.

Soldiers from Bravo Company, Task Force 1-77 and city officials from the area of Balad joined together in breaking ground on a major renovation project to raise a new city and district council building in the heart of downtown Balad on August 10.

The building, previously a Ba’ath party headquarters and social club will offer enough space to permanently house the Balad City and District Councils as well as the many associated committees and official offices to include the local newspaper and radio station.

When complete the building will be the permanent home of the largest District Council or “Quada” in the province.

The project, valued at $99,600 and currently employing more than 60 local workers and artisans, is a major project brought to the city of Balad by the continued cooperation between Task Force 1-77, the 372^nd Engineer Group and the Balad City Council.

“This building will represent all the people of Balad and will be the center of our new democratic government,” stated Balad City Mayor Fawsi.

“We are so happy to transform this once symbol of evil to the new symbol of freedom,” beamed Balad resident Baquir Jaffer.

Capt. Henry Delacruz, commander of Bravo Company, Task Force 1-77 Armor, breaking ground with city officials on the latest Task Force 1-77 project.

Prior to the actual ground breaking the commander of the Bravo Company Commander, Capt. Henry Delacruz addressed the assembled crowd. “In this building, city representatives will be able to continue their work for the people of Balad . . . They will better coordinate and work together to improve the lives of the citizens of Balad.  That is their mission.”

Following the ground breaking the project engineer and city council members gave Capt. Delacruz and members of the company a tour of the construction site.    Sgt. 1^st Class Henry Miglianti commented, “It is great see a place like this being rebuilt for the benefit of so many”

Sgt. Jeremy Jones added, “you can see we are making a difference when you see projects like this begin and the people just keep smiling.”

Task Force 1-77, part of the 1^st Infantry Division, is currently operating in Balad Iraq.  The task force has invested more than $2.6 million in Civil Military Operations in the area since March.

They, along with their ISF and Coalition partner units have been focused on high impact and high employment civil construction to assist the people in the Balad area.  (Story by Capt. Jason Goodfriend, Task Force 1-77 Armor)