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“ I got to play ping-pong with some of the kids here today ,” Walker said . “ It was fun . Today was my first time playing [ ping-pong ]. Some of the kids , I think , just let me win .”
The idea for the visit originally started with the director of the school requesting LMT 4 to come and talk to the classes , Hipple said .
“ During the course of me getting to know my area , I came to this school ,” Hipple said . “ I talked to the director and he was really happy to see us . He told me that he hasn ’ t really seen KFOR in the last two years or so .
On my second visit here , he told me about how he wanted KFOR soldiers to come in and have a little [ question-andanswer ] with the students ; he just wanted us to come into the classroom and talk to the kids and let them practice their English . So on the third visit , when I came to confirm it , he said , ‘ hey would you guys be interested in coming out and playing some sports with the kids and just hanging out all day like a field day type thing .’”
Hipple said the director of the school , Mr . Milaim Misini , and his faculty completely organized the day .
“ As long as the schools come up with it and organize it , I will participate wherever I can ,” Hipple said .
The main focus for him and his team over the next nine
months is the schools and children , Hipple said .
“ It ’ s my opinion that if we can get through to the kids and show the kids that there is a better tomorrow if they want it to be , then that ’ s what ’ s rewarding for me ,” he said . “ I ’ ve been around to other schools in this village and everybody knew that we were coming here today . So the word is spreading that KFOR 17 is out here and we are here to engage with the local populace .”
It ’ s very important to Hipple that the community feels comfortable interacting with him and his team . He wants them to know KFOR troops and not associate them with any negative stigma .
“ It ’ s just going to show them that we ’ re not someone to be scared of , that we ’ re not all here just about business ,” Hipple said . “ Because I ’ ve seen it in the past where military , in any country , will go out there and have this stigma about them like ‘ oh you can ’ t talk to me , stay away from me , we don ’ t know how to have fun .’ We might suck at playing football , but we aren ’ t afraid to try it , we aren ’ t afraid to lose . We ’ re humble people .”
Kenan Halimi School will come together with several other schools in the community on June 4th for the ninth grade graduation . Hipple said he is very excited because he has already been extended an invitation and plans on attending .
A school child at Kenan Halimi School competes in a pingpong game against Spc . Stanley Walker , Liaison Monitoring Team Four and native of Brentwood , N . Y .
( left ) Children at the Kenan Halimi School teach U . S . troops how to dance .
Troops play a game of three-on-three basketball with school children .
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