U.S. Airmen and Marines and Estonian Defense Forces soldiers got to have some fun on the athletic field with Estonian youth during a NATO Sports Day event on Friday.
Joined by members of the British and U.S. embassies, the military representing some of the current NATO forces present in Estonia, put the kids through their paces with some warm-up exercises. Then they all hit the field to play some soccer and football. About 150 kids from Kuristiku Gümnaasium, Lasnamäe Gümnaasium, Tallinna Pae Gümnaasium, Kallavere Keskkool and Maardu Gümnaasium took part in the NATO Sports Day at Maardu City Stadium.
Captain Jeremy Waldschmidt and A-10 pilot with the Maryland Air National Guard said it was a fun time. “Through Operation Atlantic Resolve, we work and train with our Estonian counterparts. This was a great way to do something fun with them and also get to meet and play sports with Estonian kids.”
EDF Private Kert Maasik agreed. He’s a fan of American style football and enjoyed playing it with the kids.
The event was the brainchild of one of the U.S. Embassy’s Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Vladislav Velizanin and took place at Maardu Sports Stadium.
The event gave the kids an opportunity to meet and learn from Estonian and US military personnel and learn more about Operation Atlantic Resolve and NATO.
