President Obama's remarks today announcing a drawdown - to zero - of American troop presence in Iraq is not directly New Jersey news.
But more than 100 people with ties to New Jersey have died in the allied wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And at least 539 New Jerseyans died at the World Trade Center attack tied to both wars. For them, for NJ soldiers deployed in Iraq and veterans of 2 wars there, and for the $40 billion spent by NJ on the Iraq War, here is the speech ostensibly ending it, from the President:
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
ON ENDING THE WAR IN IRAQ
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
12:49 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. As a candidate for President, I pledged to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end -- for the sake of our national security and to strengthen American leadership around the world. After taking office, I announced a new strategy that would end our combat mission in Iraq and remove all of our troops by the end of 2011.
For those who believe, as I do, that "Don't Ask Don't Tell" is a horribly misguided and discriminatory policy that has done a great disservice to our armed forces, this has been a remarkable week.
During his State of the Union address, President Obama reiterated his intent to end the 17-year-old policy, leading to a standing ovation that included Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Yesterday, at a Senate hearing, Secretary Gates said "I fully support the president's decision" and announced a working group to produce an implementation plan for repeal. At the same hearing, Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff made a strong appeal for repeal, saying that "allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do." The current policy, he said, "forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens."
In 2006, John McCain said, "the day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, 'Senator, we ought to change the policy,' then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it because those leaders in the military are the ones we give the responsibility."
At yesterday's hearing, he said he was disappointed in their testimony. Apparently, the advice of military leadership doesn't count for much now.
It should be evident that it is a matter of when, not if, DADT is repealed and gay men and women will be able to serve openly in our armed forces. I hope we see that day sooner, not later.
Overturning Don't Ask, Don't Tell is not simply about providing equal rights. It's about preventing the hemorrhage of critical military talent from an already-overstretched American military engaged in two wars. When I travel to the Middle East to meet American servicemen and women in the war theater, no one discusses their personal lives. Nobody should because it doesn't matter. What matters is what they are doing to complete their missions and strengthen American security.
The real question is why are we depriving our armed forces of some of their most important resources? Why are we discharging skilled Arabic linguists, fighter pilots, and weapons officers? Why have we discharged more than 13,000 service members since 1994?
There is no good reason, as Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen made clear.
This week's developments are encouraging, but, although Executive Branch action would be good, what is needed is Congressional action that would make equality the law. The bill I support - sponsored by my colleague Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania, a Veteran of the War in Iraq - has more than 180 cosponsors. We should not wait to pass it.
No one would agree to deprive our military of ammunition or armor, so why deprive it of its greatest necessity, highly talented servicemen and women?
Promoted from the diaries by Rosi. As one year closes and another begins I hope we all remember we have people so far away and at risk, and that their families need all the support their country can give them, because their worry should be on all our shoulders.
News reports about the latest deployments of NJ National Guard airmen are instructive.
They remind us that the war in Iraq continues. They remind us that we live in a dangerous world. And they remind us that there are some extraordinary people among us - people willing to risk their lives to save ours.
They should also remind us that behind these extraordinary men and women are some extraordinary families -- families whose story is often untold ... whose heroism is often unsung ... and whose needs are often unmet.
About two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend Ridgewood's annual "Blue Star" dinner - an event that pays tribute to the families of men and women currently serving in the military. My wife and I were so moved by the experience that I wrote about it for the Ridgewood News and The Record. A copy of the op-ed is pasted below.
Needless to say, these "Blue Star" families need our support and deserve our gratitude - now more than ever. So please contact your local American Legion post or family support organization. Call your local elected officials. Reach out to "Blue Star" families in your community. And pray - long and hard - for these extraordinary families and the safe return of their extraordinary loved ones.
Although they started returning on Memorial day, a parade and ceremonies were held in Trenton yesterday to honor the service of our National Guard troops. The largest deployment since World War II returned with the same number they left to serve. Here is video from the Assembly:And here is some video from the Governor's office where he said:
"Today, we are proud to welcome home our heroes one and all," Governor Corzine said. "You have served our state and our nation with dignity, with honor, and with courage. We can only imagine the adversity you faced and the conditions that made your jobs even more difficult. On behalf of all New Jersey's citizens, we thank you for your patriotism and service and we honor the sacrifices of your families. We are fortunate that you have all returned home safely."
I'll put more comments from elected officials, video and photos from the day below the fold. We're glad to have them all back safe and sound, but just because they've returned safely doesn't mean that everything goes back to normal. Let's hope that our elected officials are as interested in caring for them now that they have returned as they were celebrating their arrival.
There have been plenty of events this long holiday weekend to honor the service of our military. Elected officials and candidates have and will participate in ceremonies, events and parades to commemorate the service, but perhaps the most significant occurs today when our National Guard troops begin to return home from Iraq.
Thousands gathered at the state Memorial Day ceremony at Brig. Gen. W illiam C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Provinceline Road in North Hanover on Saturday to remember the sacrifices made.Towns throughout Salem County planned to hold observances to mark Memorial Day. Along with individual events in municipalities, they had a countywide remembrance ceremony at the Salem County Veterans Cemetery in Pilesgrove Township. At the cemetery, following the memorial service, officials dedicated the new committal shelter there.
Governor Corzine and Major General Glenn Rieth attended the Department of Military & Veteran's Affairs Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, N.J. (Thank you to Tim Larsen in the Governor's office for some great photos)
On Saturday in Newark, we saw Mayor Cory A. Booker, Congressman Payne, Assemblywoman Tucker, G.I. Go Fund Executive Director Jack Fanous, other City dignitaries, and Newark veterans observe Memorial Day and honor the City's fallen warriors with a flag raising at City Hill:
"We will welcome our brothers and sisters home with more than hugs and pats on the back. We will welcome them home with actions and deeds," Mayor Booker said. "The men and women from Newark who have worn our country's uniform and sacrificed their lives paid the highest price for the freedoms and liberties we enjoy. We must remember their sacrifice and the values they manifested in their lives - courage, honor, and commitment to country,"
The Go fund sounds like a pretty good initiative as the partnership connects Newark veterans of all generations to health care, job training, career development, and benefits programs. The Courier Post has created an interactive map of South Jersey War Memorials. The Daily Record has a listing of events and parades in Morris County. Senator Menendez in his statement honored the veterans but focused on what is being done by Congress to assist:
In Congress, we are working to reverse shortcomings in our Veterans Affairs system that became painfully evident since the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are also working to implement responsible foreign policy. We have passed into law a GI Bill for the 21st Century that allows our servicemen and women to get quality educations. As part of the economic recovery package this year, we made investments in VA medical facilities and cemeteries, in a more efficient Veterans benefits and services system and in supporting Veterans and their survivors during this economic crisis. Personally, I have championed investments in State Veterans Cemeteries to ensure that the Greatest Generation has respectable final resting places. These are just some of the actions we are taking and will continue to take to support our troops and veterans. They deserve nothing less.
While that all sounds great and I appreciate his efforts, everyone acknowledges that much more has to be done. There are numerous challenges facing our returning veterans that make it home safely. I'm sure there are plenty more events and ceremonies going on in the state that I wasn't able to mention, but are no less significant. Thank you to our military members, their family and friends for their sacrifices on this Memorial Day.
A plane carrying nearly 400 members of the Guard's 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is scheduled to arrive Monday morning at McGuire Air Force Base in Burlington County.
The soldiers are the first to return from the largest overseas deployment of the New Jersey National Guard since World War II.
This is the first wave to come home since they deployed in what was the largest since World War II. We've had over 2800 members in Iraq since last September and while they won't all come home Monday, they are coming home soon:
They will arrive in groups of 300 to 400, landing every few days. The entire complement should be back in New Jersey by the time a special parade is held in their honor on June 14, officials said.
The first returning group includes men and women from three units: The 250th Brigade Support Battalion, Delta Company out of West Orange; the 114th Infantry Battalion, Delta Company, Woodstown , and the 154th Quartermaster Company, Sea Girt.
The Memorial Day plane troops are expected to arrive at McGuire Air Force Base by late morning, said 1st Sgt. David Moore, a Fort Dix spokesman. They will be bussed to Fort Dix where their families will be waiting at the National Guard training and development center, officials said.
It's fantastic that we are bringing them home safely. Now they will need the care and assistance to help manage the adjustment back to civilian life with their families.
The demobilization is the first step in a $3 million "reintegration program," for New Jersey Guardsman. State adjutant general Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth called it "one of the most comprehensive efforts ever undertaken to support troops as they make the transition from warrior to parent, spouse, student, employee and member of their community."
The program includes employment, financial and marital counseling. There will be job fairs, free tuition, marriage enrichment seminars and special rates on health insurance.
Rieth said a key component of the reintegration program is mental health screening. In the first three months after their return, the troops will be screened at least three times for post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries and other mental health or emotional issues.
They still have a long road ahead, but the fact that they can begin the next phase of their journey is a huge step.
Today is supposed to be a day for celebrating, but I don't feel much like it. Today the 3000th American soldier died in Iraq in a war that is unnecessary, based on lies and prosecuted in an almost criminally negligent fashion.
George Bush has recently been comparing himself to Harry Truman. He's right that the buck stops with him, that the blame for each and every one of these soldiers. But he doesn't deserve to compare himself to such a serious, considered and great man.
As I type away--snug in the comfort of my Cherry Hill NJ home--I'm troubled that with all this talk about Dubai and Iran and baseball's spring training, Americans seem to be forgetting that our soldiers are dying with incresing frequency in Iraq. One project I am tending to this weekend is a little war protest that I hope others will become excited about, too. I am taking little plastic army men and writing the words "BRING ME HOME" on a little piece of masking tape then sticking it onto the little plastic soldier's base.
I have about a dozen plastic soldiers in my coat pocket at all times and place them about randomly wherever I go: one in the produce at the grocery, another on the shelves at the videostore, the restroom at the gas station or a restaurant, and so forth. This seems like a mild but mindful form of protest, but I have to admit I get a bit of a high from doing it. I hope that people will find these small toys with their message, and they'll get to thinking about the Iraq war. That's really the modest goal of this for me. (And of course the wildly subversive feeling that such behavior gives me is a bonus!)
