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Town Hall Meeting With U.S. Troops

May-13-2004 » Filed Under: General Military

As you may know the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Richard Myers, are in Iraq right now. Today they addressed some of the troops at a town hall-type meeting. Provided below is a brief excerpt from Gen. Myers' speech.

[Link to Full Transcript]

GEN. MYERS: And that's the reason, right there. (Applause.) That's the reason right there: your spirit, your attitude; again, the essential goodness of America as it's reflected in you and the job you do day in and day out. I couldn't be prouder.

And I thank you so much for your service and I thank you for your families' service as well. We've got to remember -- you remember it every day, but I think it's important that we all remember -- that there are a lot of other folks that serve that don't wear this uniform, and they're your families and your loved ones.

AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!

GEN. MYERS: And they put up with a lot of stuff when you're not around. And if my guess is right and if it happens in your family like it happens in my family, the day you leave is the day the car doesn't work, the washing machine breaks down or the toilet overflows. (Laughter.) I mean, isn't that about right?

AUDIENCE: Hoo-ah!

GEN. MYERS: And it's -- but it's more than that. We ask them to attend the high school graduations this spring you're not going to attend, and all the other things that go with that. So we thank you for that. We thank you for your service. And we thank your families for their service.

Thank you very much. (Cheers, extended applause.)


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