Photo Information

Cpl. Mark C. Davis II, left, and Bulgarian army Pvt. Stoycho Manev carry a box of donated toys to the St. Marina orphanage in Medven, Bulgaria, July 5. Davis is the data systems chief for Black Sea Rotational Force Marines at Novo Selo Training Area, and Manev is a soldier with the 38th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Light Infantry Brigade.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry

Marines, Bulgarian soldiers join forces to help Bulgarian orphanage

5 Jul 2010 | Staff Sgt. Christopher Flurry Marine Corps Forces Europe

U.S. Marines currently deployed to Bulgaria with Black Sea Rotational Force 2010 and Bulgarian soldiers from the 38th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Light Infantry Brigade, delivered toys and furniture to an orphanage in the village of Medven, Bulgaria, July 5.

"You're help has been great, and the kids will really enjoy it," said Galia Andonova, a representative from the Kotel municipality, of which Medven village belongs. "My only hope is that we'll become very good friends and good partners."

St. Marina, which provides care for dozens of special needs children, is located less than 15 miles from Bulgaria's Novo Selo Training Area, where the U.S. and Bulgarian troops have been living and working together since June 27.

"The Bulgarian soldiers were a big help, it felt good working with them and they also helped with the language barrier," said Cpl. Mark C. Davis II with 1st Tank Battalion, the acting data systems chief for the Black Sea Rotational Force Marines at Novo Selo Training Area. "I had a great time interacting with the kids. It was really a once-in-a-lifetime experience."



Marine Corps Forces Europe & Africa