Not long after the Civil War, Americans pledged to honor those who, as Abraham Lincoln put it, gave the last full measure of devotion.
Be they from Lexington and Concord, Gettysburg and Antietam, the Argonne Forest or the beaches of Normandy, Chosin and Inchon, Saigon and the Mekong Delta, Baghdad or Kandahar, we have kept that pledge every Memorial Day, and rightfully so.
Today, a new generation of American heroes is fighting for freedom all across the globe. Some of them have given that last full measure, losing their lives to make a better life for all of us. It is the hardest currency of all, once spent never to be recouped, a debt we can never truly, fully repay.
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Military-to-military contacts are a "critical component" of global engagement and support the nation's security, according to the new National Security Strategy presented to Congress May 27.
"Our ability to sustain these alliances, and to build coalitions of support toward common objectives, depends in part on the capabilities of America's armed forces," the strategy states.
The National Guard's State Partnership Program facilitates many of these military-to-military activities. Currently, there are 62 partnerships around the world with the most recent being added in Africa.
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Airmen, Sailors and Soldiers were joined by military veterans in a retreat ceremony here May 27, honoring those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the defense and service of their nation.
The audience of more than 200 past and present servicemembers and their families bore witness to a special Memorial Day retreat with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force outside the 35th Fighter Wing headquarters building.
"We honor their sacrifices in the pursuit and preservation of freedom -- from the earliest days of our nation, through the military operations taking place in Southwest Asia today," said Col. Kyle Matyi, the 35th Maintenance Group commander. "The ideals (that) brave servicemembers have died for over the last 150 years are just as important today as they were then."
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Air Force and U.S. Transportation Command officials began a new era of financial management May 27 when Spiral 2 of the Defense Enterprise Accounting and Management System, or DEAMS, deployed to users at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
There are nearly 1,100 initial users at or associated with Scott AFB. In addition to the 375th Air Mobility Wing and base tenant units, regional Air National Guard units; the Air Force Financial Services Center at Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; and Defense Finance and Accounting Service centers at Limestone, Maine, and Columbus, Ohio, that service Scott also are among the initial users.
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"These things we do, that others may live."
That s the motto for the Airmen of the 64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron who operate and maintain Joint Base Balad's rescue helicopters.
Training exercises, conducted at both deployed locations and stateside units, are a never-ending way of life for the 64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron members.
"We train for a very diverse set of search methods," said Capt. Lee Kostellic, a 64th ERQS HH-60 Pave Hawk pilot. "When something actually happens, it's never going to be the perfect training scenario, so we train for multiple circumstances in order for us to have the tools available to do our job."
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Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told troops worldwide May 28 that any repeal of the so-called "don't ask don't tell" law will be delayed until the ongoing Defense Department high-level review is completed, and only after he, the president and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all can certify that the department is ready to make the change without hurting unit cohesion, military readiness, military effectiveness and recruiting and retention.
Secretary Gates recorded a special message that will be broadcast on the
American Forces Radio and Television Service and the
Pentagon Channel to speak directly to servicemembers and their families about the moves toward repeal of the law that bars gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the military.
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"These things we do, that others may live."
That s the motto for the Airmen of the 64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron who operate and maintain Joint Base Balad's rescue helicopters.
Training exercises, conducted at both deployed locations and stateside units, are a never-ending way of life for the 64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron members.
"We train for a very diverse set of search methods," said Capt. Lee Kostellic, a 64th ERQS HH-60 Pave Hawk pilot. "When something actually happens, it's never going to be the perfect training scenario, so we train for multiple circumstances in order for us to have the tools available to do our job."
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Awards and decorations officials at the Air Force Personnel Center are seeking nominations for the 2010 Government Employees Insurance Company's Public Service Awards.
The GEICO Public Service Awards were established in 1980 to recognize the contributions of hard-working and talented government employees.
This year, GEICO officials added additional categories to include all young federal employees and retired civilian federal employees. In all, six awards are presented to federal employees based on four categories: substance abuse prevention and treatment, fire prevention and safety, physical rehabilitation, and traffic safety and accident prevention.
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As we all prepare to observe Memorial Day, let me first thank you for your extraordinary dedication and contributions to our nation and this command. Whatever the challenge, you continually answer the call and perform your mission with incredible distinction and courage.
Speaking of courage, I ask that you take a moment and pay tribute to the generations of brave servicemembers who helped secure the freedoms we all enjoy today. Please pause and reflect on the tremendous legacy of honor and service that these Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen have so generously given our homeland.
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Members of the 51st Fighter Wing are hosting a mass munitions production exercise here through May 28.
Combat Ammunition Production Exercise 10 is an annual event conducted by Pacific Air Forces and 13th Air Force logistics staff, and evaluated by munitions Airmen from across the service.
The non-rated exercise, which began May 24, provides training in non-nuclear war reserve munitions production and assembly to support rigorous integrated tasking orders.
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