I have seen the faces of those who served with them and those who commanded them, and I know the truth of the old maxim that there is none who hates war as much as he who knows it well none who knows as well how agonizingly high are its costs, how agonizing are its losses. In the air and on the seas, in battle or as victims of terrorism, they gave their lives while in the service of their country, while representing us and defending what we hold dear. They're not with us today because they're at God's right hand. And some have - 595, to be exact, over these past 8 years - some have died. You were and are willing to fight and die for America and for freedom and democracy. Ask them whether America should stand tall. Ask them whether America should be strong. Rather ask those unfortunate enough to have lived under communism. We cannot name the tens of millions who have been saved from that fate, so we cannot ask them. Because we remained strong, because we acted when we believed we had to, in the past 8 years not one inch of ground on this Earth fell under Communist control. Some might consider those words somewhat controversial, but to them I just say this: Just ask the freedom-loving people of Grenada whether American military power is a good thing or not. Just as America stands as an example to the world of the inestimable benefits of freedom and democracy, so too an America with the capacity to project her power for the purpose of protecting and expanding freedom and democracy abroad benefits the suffering people of the world. You stand engaged in an effort to keep America safe at home, to protect our allies and interests abroad, to keep the seas and the skies free of threat. No, I believe many more do, for I believe that military service in the Armed Forces of the United States is a profound form of service to all humankind. Those days will never come again.īut it's not just your fellow Americans who owe you a debt. And over the past 8 years, the luster has been restored to the reputation of our fighting forces after a time during which it was shamefully fashionable to deride and even condemn service such as yours. You have made the comfortable lives of your fellow Americans possible by taking on these responsibilities by choice. These are many of the noblest virtues to which humankind can aspire. You have made yourselves a shining example of how men and women can find within themselves qualities of self-sacrifice, bravery, camaraderie, and true courage. You have chosen a different path, a path of service to country and to others rather than to self. We live in an age of great prosperity and ease, a time when many people your age are getting themselves established in the world in circumstances of comfort that would astonish your ancestors. For you have, of your own free and true good will, chosen to spend all or part of your lives in service to your country and your countrymen. And the credit, the gratitude of a nation comfortable and at peace, properly goes not to me but rather to all of you. Yes, today America is at peace, today her defenses are strong, and she stands proud and tall in the sight of the world. But as I have sought to perform this sacred task as best I could, I have done so with the knowledge that my role in this day-to-day-to-day effort, from sunrise to sunrise, every moment of every hour of every day of every year, is a glancing one compared to yours. Since our nation's founding, the primary obligation of the national government has been the common defense of these United States. That is the most sacred, most important task of the Presidency. It's been my responsibility, my duty, and very much my honor to serve as Commander in Chief of this nation's Armed Forces these past 8 years. And I express the thanks of my roommate, who unfortunately is ill and has no voice, tried to get up and get here, and I sent her back to bed.
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