How many, not catching the few reports online and possibly in the print media, knew that yesterday, the 9th Anniversary of the Iraq Invasion, was declared as a day to now Honor the service of those sent into that war and occupation. It reminded me, another DeJa-Vu of oh so many related to our previous undeclared wars and felt in the years of these two, and still ongoing in Afghanistan after the main missions and countries promises were abandoned, as those sent have been trying to still accomplish those mission statements and intentions, with the first drumbeat of war pointed at Iraq, of another action of Honor but only a few weeks past, this A Nations Gratitude? Who Watched?. I heard nothing, on my local news nor on the national news I caught or on their sites, nor did I see much at all as to others even knowing what yesterday, 19th 0f March, was, online, in social media sites, on interactive blogs, or comments at sites where I saw a few try and alert others along with the rest of the news and personal happenings.
The President visits troops in Iraq last year
WASHINGTON, March 19, 2012 – On the ninth anniversary of U.S. forces moving into Iraq, President Barack Obama has proclaimed today to be “A National Day of Honor.”
Here’s is the text of the president’s 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.
The war left wounds not always seen, but forever felt. The burden of distance and the pain of loss weighed heavily on the hearts of millions at home and overseas. Behind every member of our military stood a parent, a spouse, or a son or daughter who proudly served their community and prayed for their loved one's safe return. For wounded warriors, coming home marked the end of one battle and the beginning of another -- to stand, to walk, to recover, and to serve again. And, in war's most profound cost, there were those who never came home. Separated by time and space but united by their love of country, nearly 4,500 men and women are eternally bound; though we have laid them to rest, they will live on in the soul of our Nation now and forever. To them, to their families, and to all who served, we owe a debt that can never be fully repaid.
When we returned the colors of United States Forces-Iraq and the last of our troops set foot on American soil, we reflected on the extraordinary service and sacrifice of those who answered our country's call. Their example embodied that fundamental American faith that tells us no mission is too hard, no challenge is too great, and that through tests and through trials, we will always emerge stronger than before. Now, our Nation reaffirms our commitment to serve veterans of Iraq as well as they served us -- to uphold the sacred trust we share with all who have worn the uniform. Our future is brighter for their service, and today, we express our gratitude by saying once more: Welcome home.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 19, 2012, as a National Day of Honor. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that commemorate the return of the United States Armed Forces from Iraq.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.
BARACK OBAMA
It wasn't a day of parades, where the masses that haven't yet sacrificed nor demanded to for a decade and counting added to the previous decades, and where the flags wave for a few hours then everyone goes home, nor a day of 'Welcome Home' some forty years later many communities are holding for us Vietnam veterans. Then the folks go home as their federal and state reps lay blame on the, long underfunded, Veterans Administration with every negative report that surfaces, and that wheel goes round and round with the words, cheap symbols and photo ops of 'support' for the military their families and veterans of! It was a day now set aside for the country to remember and contemplate, but how many here will as we move forward, DeJa-Vu all over again!
Thanks to President Obama, our troops are home from Iraq. Watch this video of Iraq veteran Sharon Potter, a Purple Heart recipient, and then leave a welcome home note for our troops.
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