Presidential Documents

16905 

Federal Register 

Vol. 77, No. 56 

Thursday, March 22, 2012 

Title 3— 

The President 

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 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. 


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16906 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 56 / Thursday, March 22, 2012 / Presidential Documents 

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. 

[FR Doc. 2012–7161 

Filed 3–21–12; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3295–F2–P 


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