The South African Navy & Marine and Coastal Management: SA troops cheered by parcels from homeThe South African Navy & Marine and Coastal Management - Unofficial Sitetag:navy.org.za,2005:TypoTypo2007-12-12T11:33:08+00:00adminurn:uuid:081431ab-869f-4713-a196-93ef1fc700142007-12-12T11:31:00+00:002007-12-12T11:33:08+00:00SA troops cheered by parcels from home<p>Like children who cannot wait to open presents on Christmas Day, South African soldiers cheered loudly when a large cargo plane carrying goodwill parcels from home arrived in Burundi on Tuesday.</p>
<p>When the cargo plane flew over the Modderfontein base in Africa's Great Lakes region, the troops spontaneously started singing.</p>
<p>"I don't think the sponsors always know how much these gifts mean to our troops," said Colonel Hein Visser, South African task force commander in Burundi.</p>
<p>He was referring to goodwill parcels brought from South Africa as part of a morale-boosting festive season tour by South African National Defence Force officers.</p>
<p>In addition to the parcels, which consisted of a picnic backpack stocked with glasses and plates, companies also donated sports gear including soccer kit.</p>
<p>"You can see, it's like a holiday here today," Visser said.</p>
<p>Read more at: <a href="http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/&articleid=327491&referrer=RSS">Mail & Guardian Online</a></p>