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Show Page 12 HILL TOP TIMES November 25, 1981 meet coumiftiry's approximately 600 members of the Thai community living in Utah. Many were students at various colleges and universities here or were sponsored by relatives. The Queen then briefly addressed current conditions in Thailand and eased anxious minds when they heard that other than problems associated with inflation, Thailand was much the same as when they left it to come to the United States. After thanking her audience, the Queen then met with five Buddhist monks (two from Ogden and three from Los Angeles, Calif.) along with Air Force Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Patrick F. Feely, Installation Chaplain, to learn how missionary work was going. Speaking for the Buddhist group was the Abbot of the Buddhist Temple of Los Angeles, Phra Tebsopon, while Sergeant Reed spoke for Chaplain Feely and explained his involvement in the Buddhist community. Her Majesty heard a short historical background of the Buddhist Temple in Utah, formally named Wat Sergeant Reed explained the hardships of getting started and how vital Chaplain Feely's support had been in getting the temple established. About 270 natives of Thailand residing in Utah, many of them dependents of military personnel :y'!' 11 Eft ill assigned to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing here, recently welcomed Her Royal Majesty, Queen Sirikit of Thailand. and her daughter, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn, during a private audience in Salt Lake City. Feelings of skepticism and disbelief ran high among them because in their native Thailand they would get only a brief glimpse of Her Majesty as she passed by in a carriage or limousine. A private audience would be unheard of. 'However, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit had conveyed through members of her entourage that this would not be a time for royal protocol, but rather a time for her people to see, hear, speak and visit with her and her daughter. Noting the air of apprehension and uneasiness of her people as her Royal Majesty and entourage entered the room, she put her audience at ease by smiling warmly and bending to shake hands with those who had come. Her Majesty asked her people to gather around her closely as she began to address them in an informal manner in her native language. She asked how many Thai people lived in Utah and how many were associated with the military here. TSgt. John Reed, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing Social Actions Office, represented the wing commander, Col. Dawson O'Neill, and answered in the Thai language, telling Her Majesty that there were approximately 250 Thai dependents of military personnel stationed at Hill, many from the 388th. He also told the Queen that there were , ' ' t (U.S. Air Force Photo by TSgt. Dham-magunara- Today, two resident Buddhist monks reside in the parsonage at 2636 Van Buren Ave., Ogden, after five . L years of working toward that goal. Only a small facility, Chaplain Feely allows, larger services to be held in the base chapel whenever it is free. As she departed, Queen Sirikit shook Chaplain Feely's hand, and in flawless English said, . "Thank you, Chaplain Feely, for your concern in helping our people here in Utah." John Reed) Her Royal Majesty, Queen Sirikit of Thailand, tells members of the Thai community that their native land is essentially the same as when they left it. (U.S. Air Force Photo by TSgt. John Reed) Maintaining the proper distance from their Queen, five Buddhist monks (two from Ogden and three from Los Angeles, Calif.) hear Her Royal Majesty, Queen Sirikit of Thailand, discuss missionary work in the United States. " 1 G 1 ' royoliy j J f X - . s a s (U.S. Air Force Photo) TSgt. John Reed, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing and a member of the audience kneel before Her Royal Highness Princess Chulaghorn (1) and Her Royal Majesty, Queen Sirikit of Thailand, during their recent visit in Salt Lake City. |