President Proclaims ‘National Day of Honor’ - American Forces Press Service
On March 19, 2012, the ninth anniversary of U.S. forces moving into Iraq, President Barack Obama proclaimed that day 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."