Press Releases 08
United States Commemorates its Veterans
Statement by Ambassador Antonio O. Garza
Mexico City, November 11, 2008 – Speaking at the annual Veterans
Day ceremony held today at the Mexico City U.S. National Cemetery,
Ambassador Garza urged Americans to honor all American veterans
for their dedicated and loyal service to their country. The
following represents the remarks made by Ambassador Antonio
O. Garza, Jr. on the occasion of Veterans Day:
“1918. The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh
month. The Great War in Europe ended. That is the origin of
Veterans Day. Since 1957, we in the United States have focused
not just on the World Wars or those who made the ultimate
sacrifice in the service of the United States. We remember
all those who have served our nation in uniform, in times
of war and peace, in conflicts great and small.
“We honor men and women who looked to the future -- who donned
a uniform and left the comfort of home, but then came home,
laid their uniforms aside, and built new lives to make the
United States a better place and ensure that our ideals of
life, liberty and happiness remain rooted in reality.
“On this day, when we honor all those who defended the American
people, we thank our Veterans for their service.
“We are grateful, too, to our Mexican partners with whom
we have fought side-by-side, including in the Philippines
during World War II when the Aztec Eagles helped liberate
the island of Luzon. Today, American and Mexican forces continue
to fight a common enemy, although in the 21st century, we
find that the world has grown smaller, and all countries are
faced with the threat of terrorism, and the scourge of transnational
organized crime.
“Now, both Mexico and the United States must confront not
only terrorism, but the threat known as ‘narco-trafficking’.
Together, we share the Herculean task of ensuring this threat
doesn’t diminish the safety and freedom for which our veterans
of past and present conflicts so gallantly fought, and that
we continue to enjoy to this very day.”
To read the full text of this speech, click on: http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/Ambassador/eA081111Veterans.html |
