Retired Louisiana National Guard Maj. Gen. John Basilica made the following remarks to those gathered at the LSU Memorial Oak Grove on Veterans Day. The event was part of the annual LSU Salutes observance.
Thank you LTC Wright for that kind introduction.
GEN Dunwoody, GEN Phillips, other distinguished guests, thank you for inviting me to be here at Louisiana State University today and to participate in this Veterans Day commemoration.
I hope I can share with you some thoughts about this day. While my experiences may be somewhat narrow in that I will talk a good bit about the Louisiana National Guard, I believe that my observations are as applicable as ever to the original purpose of this occasion.
Veterans Day is a unique and special day for America. All over the nation, in celebrations like this one, Americans set aside their routine activities and gather together to remember and pay tribute to the men and women who have served this nation in uniform.
This holiday also especially rouses thoughts of a special group of veterans that we honor on Memorial Day; those who made the ultimate sacrifice and therefore, are absent from celebrations such as this one.
This extra special group, who has given so much, can never receive too much love or gratitude. Certainly the simple gesture of this ceremony pales in comparison to the magnitude of their sacrifice, but it is a strong and enduring reminder that they will always be in our prayers and in our hearts.
We remain a nation at war. As we assemble here today in this beautiful and special place, we should never forget that that there are thousands of brave servicemen and women forward deployed and in harm’s way protecting/defending our way of life.
They have done and continue to do their jobs so well, that we as a nation feel safe and secure from a very dangerous world. In fact, we feel so protected that it is easy to forget about those who stand guard to ensure that we can continue to enjoy the blessings of freedom in our lives. That is why celebrations like this are so critically important. They remind of the selfless service of all veterans and the meaning of their service.
A current reminder of the true meaning of their service is on the front pages of our news these days. There are thousands of Americans who are exercising their Constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech to express their displeasure with the economic conditions today and the institutions they feel are responsible. Moreover, they have gone beyond fixing blame on the institutions and have personalized the movement into two groups of people. Their rallying cry is that they are the forgotten 99%. The message is … that 99% of Americans feel as they do and are being negatively affected by the 1%.
Now, I am not here today to make a political statement or pass judgment on their cause. However, my observation is that what makes their message so compelling is this very easy to understand huge imbalance. The stark contrast in the numbers just grabs you and is in your face that the 1% can have such a life altering influence on the 99%. By implication of course, the 1% are the bad guys.
But in a juxtaposition of this example, our service men and women (veterans) represent less than 1% of the population, and so in this case a different 1% protects and defends the other 99%’s freedom to express themselves. The contrast is equally striking.
So it’s my wish today, that we focus on this other 1%, and trust me, they are most certainly the good guys.
And that is what the LSU Salutes program is all about today and over this weekend. It is absolutely appropriate that we celebrate the continuing legacy of this ROTC program and the steadfast support by this fine university to produce officers of distinction.
There is an undeniable legacy here that is unique I think in this country. Moreover, it is grounded in the strong and lasting connection between this program and Louisiana’s own 256th Infantry Brigade … the Tiger Brigade, and it has produced some of the finest officers that I have ever had the honor of serving with.
I had the high personal privilege to command the 256th Brigade Combat Team from the Louisiana National Guard. We served for 12 months in Western Baghdad from 2004-2005 in some of the most dangerous neighborhoods of Iraq. It was an extremely eventful and strategically important period of time in the war, so if you will indulge me, I will share with you the enormous pride of one commander to have known and served with the veterans of today.
From the first day to the last, the Brigade fought with great skill and courage. They distinguished themselves in combat and through their actions joined an elite group of decorated combat veterans elevated from all others through acts of courage and bravery. Their commitment to each other and to our mission was unshakeable. They were men and women of character and values. They were very proud of what they were doing and confident of the importance and goodness of their service. All volunteers, they epitomize the best of what citizen soldiers should and could be and were true patriots.
They brought enough security and stability to the country to enable the Iraqi people to have their first free elections and vote for an interim government.
They worked tirelessly to train and prepare Iraqi security forces to assume more and more of their own responsibility for the security of their country.
Throughout it all, they consistently showed the Iraqi people by their example what it means to be an American and why freedom is worth fighting for and worth protecting. Their unselfish compassion for the Iraqi people and especially the children will never be forgotten. They helped to provide their essential services and protect and improve their fragile quality of life. They taught them about respect and dignity and the importance of human rights.
I had two full colonels for deputies. They were both products of the LSU program. In addition, 2of 4 Task Force Commanders, numerous principal staff officers, company commanders, and platoon leaders. LSU graduates at every level. There were LSU ROTC graduates from the 70s, 80s, 90s and this millennium. They answered the call when our country needed them the most and when the stakes couldn’t be any higher. They didn’t get to pick the time or the place. They were ready.
What I hope you now understand is the huge contribution this program made to not only the leadership of the Tiger Brigade, but to the overall success of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It is especially gratifying that as we complete the transition to Iraqi control this year, we can be proud of the role that Louisiana veterans played in accomplishing this significant National strategic mission.
I will leave you with a quote from President Woodrow Wilson. He was speaking at a Flag Day ceremony but his message is applicable today and captures the essence of what it means to serve:
President Wilson said
“This flag which we honor and under which we serve is the emblem of our unity, our power, our thought and purpose as a nation. It has no other character than that which we give it from generation to generation.”
I am proud to tell you that I have served with the “next greatest generation” and I can tell you without reservation that they are maintaining the example and standard that those before them so nobly established.
And so, my hope is the 99% will demonstrate the same level of passion on this day that they have these past few weeks. And that across this country they will set aside the other issues in their lives for one day and demonstrate their appreciation for all of the veterans, past and present, that have guaranteed their rights and liberties the other 364 days of the year.
Let’s celebrate the 1% today.
Thank you very much for choosing to be here to honor our veterans. My best wishes to you all for a meaningful and memorable veterans day.
God bless our veterans and God bless America.