An Evening with The First Lady of Iraq

One special evening during our trip to Iraq was spent at the home of President and Mrs. Talabani. Mrs. Talabani, the First Lady of Iraq, hosted a dinner for the Gold Star Mothers who were visiting from the U.S., along with the women from Baghdad that we spent the week with. The day before, Mrs. Talabani had Tradition Kurdish dresses made of each woman in our group. The men were also provided with traditional Kurdish clothing. Dressed for the occasion, we arrived at the home of Mrs. Talabani. The First Lady of Iraq provided a bountiful dinner for our group. During dinner Mrs. Talabani told stories of hiding out from Saddam Hussein in the hills of Northern Iraq. She recounted the events of one night in particular when she heard the sound of incoming fire and exploding bombs while remaining in black out conditions. The next morning they found and unexploded bomb in the entrance of the structure they had sought shelter in. She also spoke of the chemical bombings by Saddam’s men on the Kurds and the fight to stay alive as he inflicted death and destruction the people. Mrs. Talabani’s genuine gratitude for all the U.S. Military had done for her country could not be overstated.

Following dinner, Mrs. Talabani presented each Gold Star Mother with and elegant crystal award engraved with this beautiful message. “Our eternal gratitude to the mothers who raised the bravest of children, who dedicated their lives to the liberation of other nations…… (signed) A Mother” This is something I will cherish forever as it is from the heart of one mother to another.

A time of socializing with Mrs. Talabani and the Iraqi women in our group we now considered dear friends was had, along with a surprise birthday celebration for our Utah Gold Star Mom Colleen Parkin. Mrs. Talabani provided four pink birthday cakes (pink being Colleen’s trademark color) and the group sang Happy Birthday to Colleen in English, Kurdish and Arabic.

This evening with Mrs. Talabani was uplifting and heartwarming. Her love and gratitude for us and our children who had died in her country, fighting for their liberation, was sincere and genuine. She was a mother reaching out to the hearts other mothers.

The repeated theme of the week which for me was completely unexpected, was love and gratitude for all our sons and daughters had done for the people of Iraq. They them as their own, and now the mother’s of those remarkable American Warriors were also loved by the people of Iraq.

Mrs. Talabani with the Joan Betros the President of FUTURE

Mrs. Talabani presenting a gift to
South Carolina Gold Star Mother Ann Hampton

Mrs. Talabani and Utah Gold Star Mother
Colleen Parkin at the birthday celebration

Birthday Party!

Utah group Amy Galvez, Colleen Parkin, Jan Moncur

and Matthew LaPlante

Read more about Hero Talabani in this 2006 Kurd net story.