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So what did you do this 4th of July?
Posted by civil truth on July 4th, 2008
Led by Gen. David Petraeus, 1,215 U.S. servicement from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, representing all 50 states, took their oath of duty at the Al Faw Palace in Baghdad, Iraq earlier today, July 4, 2008, in the largest known reenlistment ceremony in the history of the U.S. military.
Gen. Petraeus, reiterating earlier remarks made by Command Sergeant Major Hill, said that the unprecedented ceremony sends a “message to friend and foe alike.” He told those assembled that it is “impossible to calculate the value of what you are giving to our country . . . For no bonus, no matter the size, can adequately compensate you for the contribution each of you makes as a custodian of our nation’s defenses.”
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Meanwhile, Stars and Stripes reported that troops at seven bases in Iraq were to get fresh deep dish pizza straight from Chicago as part of their 4th of July celebrations, courtesy of an idea from a retired airman and the generosity of hundreds of others. The 3,000 pizzas — each with a pound of cheese and packed with other toppings — were cooked by Lou Malnati’s Restaurant staffers last week, then shipped though New York, Belgium and Bahrain on their way to U.S. troops around Baghdad.
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Sort of brings more perspective to parades and picnics and fireworks, doesn’t it?
[H/T to Bob Krum for the video and details - and the title.]
July 4th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
In spite of my boobie comments, I worked tonight. Rather hard, too as a few of my peers decided to call out so they could go firework watching. I always work these holidays as no one else wants to- and if they’re scheduled half of them just don’t show up.
Anyway, the military don’t have the choice to call out period…bet they wish they could be so spoiled.