[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 126, 112th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 8785--MAR. 19, 2012

Proclamation 8785 of March 19, 2012

National Day of Honor

By the President of the United States of America

A 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.
Today, we honor their success, their service, and their sacrifice. In
one of our Nation's longest wars, veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom
and Operation New Dawn wrote one of the most extraordinary chapters in



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American military history. When highways became mine fields and
uncertainty waited behind every corner, service members rose to meet the
task at hand with unmatched courage and determination. They learned
languages and cultures, taking on new roles as diplomats and development
experts to improve the communities where they served. Their strength
toppled a tyrant, and their valor helped build opportunity in
oppression's place. Across nearly 9 years of conflict, the glory of
their service--as well as the contributions of other members of the U.S.
Government and our coalition partners--always shone through.
The war left wounds not always seen, but forever felt. The burden of
distance and the pain of loss weighed heavily on the hearts of millions
at home and overseas. Behind every member of our military stood a
parent, a spouse, or a son or daughter who proudly served their
community and prayed for their loved one's safe return. For wounded
warriors, coming home marked the end of one battle and the beginning of
another--to stand, to walk, to recover, and to serve again. And, in
war's most profound cost, there were those who never came home.
Separated by time and space but united by their love of country, nearly
4,500 men and women are eternally bound; though we have laid them to
rest, they will live on in the soul of our Nation now and forever. To
them, to their families, and to all who served, we owe a debt that can
never be fully repaid.
When we returned the colors of United States Forces-Iraq and the last of
our troops set foot on American soil, we reflected on the extraordinary
service and sacrifice of those who answered our country's call. Their
example embodied that fundamental American faith that tells us no
mission is too hard, no challenge is too great, and that through tests
and through trials, we will always emerge stronger than before. Now, our
Nation reaffirms our commitment to serve veterans of Iraq as well as
they served us--to uphold the sacred trust we share with all who have
worn the uniform. Our future is brighter for their service, and today,
we express our gratitude by saying once more: Welcome home.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 19, 2012, as a
National Day of Honor. I call upon all Americans to observe this day
with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that commemorate
the return of the United States Armed Forces from Iraq.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of
March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA