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IT IS SAID THAT EVERY GENERATION STANDS ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE GENERATION WHICH PRECEEDED IT. AND WE ARE BLESSED IN SO MANY WAYS AS A NATION BECAUSE THE GENERATIONS BEFORE US STOOD EXCEEDINGLY TALL. THEY REFUSED AT EVERY TURN TO LET ADVERSITY DETER THEM FROM THEIR PURPOSE. WE ARE A FREE NATION BECAUSE OF THEIR SACRIFICE.
TODAY, A NEW GENERATION OF AMERICANS HAS BEEN CALLED UPON TO SERVE OUR NATION. AND IT IS THOSE GREAT AMERICANS WE ARE GATHERED HERE TO CELEBRATE.
I CAME OF AGE IN THE 1970’S, TOO YOUNG TO SERVE BUT NOT TOO YOUNG TO BE AWARE OF HOW MANY OF OUR SOLDIERS WERE UNFAIRLY CHARACTERISED, SIMPLY BECAUSE THE VIETNAM WAR WAS UNPOPULAR. THE DEMONIZATION BY SOME OF THOSE WHO SERVED IN THAT WAR WILL LIVE FOREVER AS AN EVENT OF GREAT SHAME FOR OUR NATION.
I AM HERE TODAY, NEITHER IN FAVOR OF NOR AGAINST THE WAR IN IRAQ, TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER AS YOUR MAYOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE NEVER EVER DISHONOR OUR SOLDIERS. POLITICIANS ARE SOMETIMES RIGHT AND SOMETIMES WRONG. OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, HOWEVER, ARE OUR HEROES. THEY HAVE NOT ASKED WHY, THEY HAVE SIMPLY AND BEAUTIFULLY DONE THEIR DUTY.
I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SOME WHO WERE CRITICAL OF THIS EVENT TODAY, THAT THERE IS SOMEHOW FAVORITISM AT WORK BECAUSE YOUR CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS UNANIMOUSLY SAID LET US JOIN TOGETHER ON YOUR CIVIC PLAZA, PAID FOR WITH YOUR TAX DOLLARS, AND CELEBRATE THE SACRIFICE OF OUR DEFENDERS. I WANT TO ASSURE THOSE CRITICS THAT THERE ABSOLUTELY IS FAVORITISM HERE TODAY – IT IS THE FAVORITISM AND HONOR THAT WE PAY THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES AND WHO WILL GIVE THEIR LIVES FOR US IN THE WEEKS TO COME.
PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR ATTENTION AS I READ FOR YOU A LIST OF YOUNG AMERICANS WHO ARE CURRENTLY MISSING IN ACTION, OR WHO ARE KNOWN POW’S.
THIS WAR WILL EVENTUALLY COME TO AN END. MANY WILL NOT BE COMING HOME TO JOIN FAMILIES BUT TO BE BURIED. I PRAY THAT WE WILL NEVER FORGET THOSE THAT MAKE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. AND FOR THOSE THAT COME HOME SAFELY, I PRAY AND AM CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL WELCOME THEM HOME AS HEROES. AS A FREE PEOPLE, WE WILL LIFT THEM UP AND HONOR THEM EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES.
MAY GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS -- GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU HERE TODAY – GOD BLESS OUR CITY AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.