Honoring Iraq War Veterans

NATIONAL DAY OF HONOR

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

Nine years ago, members of the United States Armed Forces crossed the sands of the Iraq-Kuwait border and began one of the most challenging missions our military has ever known.  They left the comforts of home and family, volunteering in service to a cause greater than themselves.  They braved insurgency and sectarian strife, knowing too well the danger of combat and the cost of conflict.  Yet, through the dust and din and the fog of war, they never lost their resolve.  Demonstrating unshakable fortitude and unwavering commitment to duty, our men and women in uniform served tour after tour, fighting block by block to help the Iraqi people seize the chance for a better future.  And on December 18, 2011, their mission came to an end.

Today, we honor their success, their service, and their sacrifice.  In one of our Nation's longest wars, veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn wrote one of the most extraordinary chapters in American military history.  When highways became mine fields and uncertainty waited behind every corner, service members rose to meet the task at hand with unmatched courage and determination.  They learned languages and cultures, taking on new roles as diplomats and development experts to improve the communities where they served.  Their strength toppled a tyrant, and their valor helped build opportunity in oppression's place.  Across nearly 9 years of conflict, the glory of their service—as well as the contributions of other members of the U.S. Government and our coalition partners—always shone through. 

This continues and it can be found in toto here.

Congratulations and thanks to the veterans of the Second Iraq War.

And a Thank You to the President for this recognition of those Veterans.

Regards  —  Cliff