American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, June 14, 2012 – In a message
congratulating the Army on its 237th birthday, Defense Secretary Leon E.
Panetta today praised soldiers who built the service’s legacy and those who now
carry it forward.
Here is the text of the secretary’s
message:
As we mark the birthday of the United
States Army, I want to congratulate this great American institution for 237
years of distinguished service in defense of this country. The proud story of the
American soldier is one of honor, valor, patriotism, and sacrifice in the
service of their countrymen. From those earliest volunteers who stepped forward
to join the ranks of the Continental Army to those who fought at Gettysburg, in
the Argonne Forest, at Normandy, Bastogne, in Korea and Vietnam, in Iraq and
Afghanistan, the American soldier has shaped the course of world history.
I am proud of the opportunity I had to
serve in the ranks of the United States Army. I¹ll always cherish those
memories of Army life, and the honor I felt in being part of an extraordinary
team.
For ten long years the Army has
shouldered a heavy burden, fighting in Iraq¹s city streets and in the mountains
of Afghanistan. And through it all, American soldiers stepped bravely forward,
marched off towards the sound of the guns, and gave everything to provide for
our security, to give all Americans a better, safer future. They have done
everything this country has asked of them and more.
I have been deeply fortunate in my
position as Secretary of Defense over this past year to have visited many Army
installations and thousands of soldiers serving around the world, including
those on the front lines. These soldiers, and their families, carry forward the
proud and distinguished legacy we celebrate today, and because of their
dedication, the United States Army will remain the strongest in the world.
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