Over at “Gator Six”, Tim has posted from Major General Dempsey’s remarks on the casing of the colors as the 1st Armored Division prepares to leave Iraq after more than fifteen months of duty there:
Today we also celebrate our Independence Day. It seems fitting that we end our mission on this great American holiday that celebrates our freedom.
We have learned a lot about the price of freedom.
We have learned that people experiencing freedom for the first time may not understand how fragile it can be and how much sacrifice may be required to earn it and preserve it.
I am confident that our actions have shown the Iraqi people how much we value our freedom. It is a shining example that cannot be ignored.
And we have learned that even people who have lived in freedom may not fully comprehend the profound care it requires. It was, after all, Thomas Jefferson who said “the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time by the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
You will never feel the same about Independence Day again.
Go read the whole speech, it’s well worth the read….