Remarks at Fort Drum Deployment Ceremony
10th Mountain Division Headquarters
Fort Drum, NY
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thank you. General Cody; General Oates; Congressman McHugh; Senator Aubertine; soldiers; family members; officers; those of you who have come to see our soldiers off; and to all New Yorkers, particularly our great veterans who are among us today: It is the highest privilege that I have ever had in public service to appear at your send-off ceremony this morning.
Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division Headquarters Unit, there is in my career no moment I can think of where I should be more privileged to represent this government. I have appeared at these types of ceremonies before, but I have never before represented the government in this fashion.
And it is because I am standing opposite individuals who are going to put themselves in harm’s way—in places like south and southeast Baghdad, and in Najaf, Karbala and Wasit Provinces. These regions are the most dangerous in the world. And yet, we have, right here in the 10th Mountain Division, we have soldiers who are saying: “The tougher it is, the more willing I am to serve.”
Most of you have served before. You have been in this conflict; and you are willing to go back. There is really no greater gratitude a society can offer any of its members than for us to come and send you off in the most gallant way possible.
When you think about our American society, the democracy that we have, maybe we are so used to it that we don’t take a step back often enough to recognize its value. This is not a regular procedure that exists in human history. This is not an accident of fate. This is not an article of some type of opportunity that just happened to occur. It is because people like you and your predecessors fought, suffered, and often paid the ultimate price so that we could have a free society.
And we are willing to go all over the world if necessary to actually protect it. We want all of our soldiers to know that, and know how much we support you.
We also want you to know that we care about your families. Here in New York, we have a special arrangement. When babies are born, they’re not born on the base; they’re born right here in the community of the North Country in our hospitals. When your children go to school, they don’t go to school separated from other children; they go to school right here in the community.
So we aren’t just sending off our soldiers today; we’re sending off our neighbors. You are a part of the New York society as long as you are here. We are honored to have you here. And it would not be possible for us to tell you or show you how much we appreciate your service.
Every year, I go down to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland, and I visit those who happen to be injured in service. And sometimes, in the depths of their depression, I think they wonder—as many of you soldiers wonder as you go off to fight for our country—whether or not, after this ceremony, we still care. Whether or not we still understand the price that you’re paying by making this gesture of volunteerism to fight and serve our country and protect it.
I want you to know that we do care. And we will look out for your families while you’re away. We will try to make sure they get the adequate housing; the health care they need; the educational facilities your children can use; and certainly, the employment of your spouses and those who love you.
So when you come back here, I hope that you will find a society that welcomes you with the greatest arms, as the greatest, greatest contributors to our democracy.
It is in that spirit that I thank you so much for your service. I know how much you are willing to do this, but it is still hard for some of us to comprehend the bravery; the honor; the steadfast discipline and dedication that you give to this service. There’s no greater service on this planet.
And because of that, I think the Lord will keep you and will protect you. And we will pray that you all come back safe and sound, and we will await you. And as we await you, we’ll keep working to try to make this a safer society.
So thank you for all you have done for us. While you’re away, we have a challenge, and we will return that favor—and we will do it for you.
Thank you very much.
