Appeal For Courage has successfully concluded!
The transcript from the presentation ceremony is below. Sincere thanks to everyone who helped ensure the troop's voices were heard. This was a small, but important part of our victory in Iraq!
Appeal for Courage Presentation Ceremony
09 May 2007
VFW Headquarters, Washington D.C.
Over 2,000 signatures were submitted to Congress in a ceremony presided over by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) and VFW Executive Director Bob Wallace.
Also attending were Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Senator Jim DeMint, House Chief Deputy Whip Representative Roy Blunt (R-MO), Republican Conference Chairman Representative Adam Putnam (R-FL), and Republican Chief Deputy Whip Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA).
Transcript (partial):
Director Bob Wallace: Welcome to the Veterans of Foreign Wars United States Washington office.
And special welcome to the members of Congress who have joined us.
My name is Bob Wallace, and I have the privilege of serving as the executive director of the Veterans
of Foreign Wars here in Washington. I'm a former Marine who served on the ground in Vietnam. Today I
am here representing 2,755 active duty, Guard and Reserve members, but especially the originators of
today's events, Lieutenant Jason Nichols, the United States Navy, who's stationed in Baghdad for the
last five months, from the state of Florida. He's an information professional, communications support
person. And Staff Sergeant David Thul of the Minnesota Army National Guard, who's been in Iraq for 14
months. He's in Al Asad, Iraq, and he's involved in convoy security. Lieutenant Nichols called the VFW
about a month ago and asked if we would arrange today's event and represent those serving in the armed
forces today who have signed the Appeal for Courage petition that I will present in a few moments.
About two hours ago, I called and spoke with Lieutenant Nichols, and asked him why he created the Appeal for
Courage petition. His response was very simple: To win the war by making Americans, and especially the
Congress, know how many troops serving in Iraq feel. He stated he was getting frustrated and wanted
to make a statement. I then asked him if he could be standing here right now, what would he say? His
quote was, "We believe we are winning the war and we need the support of the full Congress to give us
the proper funding to allow the troops to finish the mission you sent us on." The last thing I asked
him was, "Who would you thank, if you personally could, today?" And he stated, "The families of all
those who are serving and have served, those who have been wounded, and those who have paid the supreme
sacrifice, along with the American people for their various support-the-troop programs." He then added
a special thanks to Vietnam veterans for leading the way in support of today's troops. That, I can personally
relate to.
I will now read the petition: "Appeal for Courage: As an American currently serving my nation
in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq
and halt any calls to retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media
efforts which embolden my enemy by demoralizing American support at home. The war in Iraq is a necessary
and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack." This petition
has been signed, as of yesterday, by 2,755 active duty, Reserve or National Guard forces. It's now my
privilege and pleasure, on behalf of Lieutenant Nichols and Staff Sergeant Thul and the 2,755 men and
women who have signed this petition to hand the petition to Senator Graham and Congressman Boehner.
Senator Lindsey Graham: Well, I don't know what to add. The one thing I would note, that among the military,
in terms of reenlistment, the highest rate of reenlistment in all the military are those who have served in Iraq
and Afghanistan. And I would just ask members of Congress and the public at large to think for a moment,
just to slow down and think, just for a moment, you have your view of the war. And this is democracy.
You have every right to express yourself and to have your own views. Just for a moment, ask yourself,
what do they see in Iraq that would compel them to go back, sometimes three and four times? What is
it that makes these young men and women want to go back again and take on the risk that is ever present
in Iraq and Afghanistan? I think this petition says it better than I could ever hope to say. <b>They see
a fight that America cannot afford to lose. They understand the risk they're assuming, and to a person,
the ones that I have talked to, here's what comes out of the mouth: I want to do it now so my kids don't
have to come back here later.</b> Now, I just wish the members of Congress who are contemplating what to
do would at least absorb this petition and put it in their thought process and listen to these brave
young men and women who have taken the time to put in writing their thoughts. I can assure you that
all members of Congress from the House and the Senate up here today will use their words when it comes
time to figure out what America should do. America should support those in harm's way without condition.
Senator Lindsey Graham: And now the Republican leader of the House, John Boehner.
Representative John Boehner: Well, Lindsey, thanks. And thanks for including me in this.
What Lindsey didn't say is that he met this soldier over in Iraq earlier
this year. And the soldier talked to him about putting this petition together. I think there's two things
that are clear. First, as Lindsey said, we have no choice but to win this war. The consequences of failure
are too ominous to even comprehend. And secondly, we cannot give lip service to our troops. We can't
say on one hand that we support our troops, then on the other hand say, "The war is lost."Now, these
young men and women over in Iraq are there fighting for our safety and our security. They're also fighting
for the safety and security of our kids and theirs. And if we don't take on the terrorists, and we're
not willing to take on the terrorists in Iraq, where do we draw the line? And when do we stand up to
protect the safety and interests of the American people? Enough is enough. It's time to get a clean
bill on the president's desk and really support our troops.
Senator Lindsey Graham: Senator Chambliss?
Senator Saxby Chambliss: Well, thank you. And thank you, Bob, for headlining this today.
VFW does such a great job with all of our men and women, both active duty as well as retired. I just returned from my fifth trip to Iraq, Georgia's very proudly the home of the 3rd I.D., which is headquartered at Fort Stewart and at Fort Benning, Georgia.
And I had the opportunity in not just Baghdad, but in Tikrit, in Balad as well as in Ramadi, to visit
with members of the 3rd Infantry Division, who are on their third tour in Iraq. And the message I heard,
not just from the generals and the colonels, but from the privates and the corporals and the other enlisted
personnel, "Senator, we know why we're here. We're here for the right reason. We're here to protect
freedom." And this comes from brave men and women wearing the uniform of the United States, whether
they've been in the military for three years or 30 years. They're there because they know they're doing
the right thing.
I commend Lieutenant Nichols and Staff Sergeant Thul for coming up with
this idea. Because time and time again what I heard once again this past weekend is that, "Failure in
Iraq is not an option. We know because we're a part of the team that's fighting these folks who, if
we do fail, they are waiting to follow us to America." It's great to see the enthusiasm and the morale
at the height that it is in Iraq, and it's petitions and movements like this that will just increase
that. Thank you.
Senator Lindsey Graham: Eric?
Representative Eric Cantor: Thank you, Senator. Thank you. And I also want to give my thanks
and respect to the VFW, that have brought this petition forward. I think it means a lot. We're sitting
here on Capitol Hill. And I think what you see today is a difference of perspective, not party. Obviously,
the individuals here with me believe very strongly that the global war on terror is real. And we are
willing to fund that war on terror without strings, and to pass and put a clean emergency supplemental
funding on the president's desk without slowly bleeding our troops. In contrast, what we see in the
House is the majority party has now gone through 93 days of holding up the emergency troop funding,
and held captive by promulgating a bill that they know -- that we'll vote on tomorrow -- that they know
will be vetoed. Now, the Democrats in the House have talked of funding our troops on a two month to
month basis, gutting the ability for our commanders on the ground to plan their budget. I just left
a meeting a few minutes ago with Secretary Gates, who said again that the bill that we'll be voting
on the floor will hurt the readiness of our troops, and will hurt his ability to head up the Pentagon
and to execute the mission in Iraq. From the Iraq war appropriations, to the Patriot Act, to the status
of Guantanamo prisons, to NSA intercepts, to presidential elections, this debate has always been and
will continue to be about the future security of our nation. Scoring political points while our soldiers
are in the field fighting the forces of radical Islam is a dangerous and irresponsible move. It's time
to get down to business on a funding measure that will help our troops.
Senator Lindsey Graham: Senator DeMint?
Senator Jim DeMint: Thank you. This petition confirms what I've heard from dozens of soldiers in Iraq and back home, that
the talk of retreat emboldens their enemy. It makes their fight harder. And it endangers their lives.
Our colleagues here on the Hill need to hear that and they need to see this petition. Because the people
who are putting their lives at risk believe that they're doing the right thing and that this war is
winnable.
closing remarks
09 May 2007
VFW Headquarters, Washington D.C.
Over 2,000 signatures were submitted to Congress in a ceremony presided over by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) and VFW Executive Director Bob Wallace.
Also attending were Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Senator Jim DeMint, House Chief Deputy Whip Representative Roy Blunt (R-MO), Republican Conference Chairman Representative Adam Putnam (R-FL), and Republican Chief Deputy Whip Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA).
Transcript (partial):
Director Bob Wallace: Welcome to the Veterans of Foreign Wars United States Washington office.
And special welcome to the members of Congress who have joined us.
My name is Bob Wallace, and I have the privilege of serving as the executive director of the Veterans
of Foreign Wars here in Washington. I'm a former Marine who served on the ground in Vietnam. Today I
am here representing 2,755 active duty, Guard and Reserve members, but especially the originators of
today's events, Lieutenant Jason Nichols, the United States Navy, who's stationed in Baghdad for the
last five months, from the state of Florida. He's an information professional, communications support
person. And Staff Sergeant David Thul of the Minnesota Army National Guard, who's been in Iraq for 14
months. He's in Al Asad, Iraq, and he's involved in convoy security. Lieutenant Nichols called the VFW
about a month ago and asked if we would arrange today's event and represent those serving in the armed
forces today who have signed the Appeal for Courage petition that I will present in a few moments.
About two hours ago, I called and spoke with Lieutenant Nichols, and asked him why he created the Appeal for
Courage petition. His response was very simple: To win the war by making Americans, and especially the
Congress, know how many troops serving in Iraq feel. He stated he was getting frustrated and wanted
to make a statement. I then asked him if he could be standing here right now, what would he say? His
quote was, "We believe we are winning the war and we need the support of the full Congress to give us
the proper funding to allow the troops to finish the mission you sent us on." The last thing I asked
him was, "Who would you thank, if you personally could, today?" And he stated, "The families of all
those who are serving and have served, those who have been wounded, and those who have paid the supreme
sacrifice, along with the American people for their various support-the-troop programs." He then added
a special thanks to Vietnam veterans for leading the way in support of today's troops. That, I can personally
relate to.
I will now read the petition: "Appeal for Courage: As an American currently serving my nation
in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our mission in Iraq
and halt any calls to retreat. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively oppose media
efforts which embolden my enemy by demoralizing American support at home. The war in Iraq is a necessary
and just effort to bring freedom to the Middle East and protect America from further attack." This petition
has been signed, as of yesterday, by 2,755 active duty, Reserve or National Guard forces. It's now my
privilege and pleasure, on behalf of Lieutenant Nichols and Staff Sergeant Thul and the 2,755 men and
women who have signed this petition to hand the petition to Senator Graham and Congressman Boehner.
Senator Lindsey Graham: Well, I don't know what to add. The one thing I would note, that among the military,
in terms of reenlistment, the highest rate of reenlistment in all the military are those who have served in Iraq
and Afghanistan. And I would just ask members of Congress and the public at large to think for a moment,
just to slow down and think, just for a moment, you have your view of the war. And this is democracy.
You have every right to express yourself and to have your own views. Just for a moment, ask yourself,
what do they see in Iraq that would compel them to go back, sometimes three and four times? What is
it that makes these young men and women want to go back again and take on the risk that is ever present
in Iraq and Afghanistan? I think this petition says it better than I could ever hope to say. <b>They see
a fight that America cannot afford to lose. They understand the risk they're assuming, and to a person,
the ones that I have talked to, here's what comes out of the mouth: I want to do it now so my kids don't
have to come back here later.</b> Now, I just wish the members of Congress who are contemplating what to
do would at least absorb this petition and put it in their thought process and listen to these brave
young men and women who have taken the time to put in writing their thoughts. I can assure you that
all members of Congress from the House and the Senate up here today will use their words when it comes
time to figure out what America should do. America should support those in harm's way without condition.
Senator Lindsey Graham: And now the Republican leader of the House, John Boehner.
Representative John Boehner: Well, Lindsey, thanks. And thanks for including me in this.
What Lindsey didn't say is that he met this soldier over in Iraq earlier
this year. And the soldier talked to him about putting this petition together. I think there's two things
that are clear. First, as Lindsey said, we have no choice but to win this war. The consequences of failure
are too ominous to even comprehend. And secondly, we cannot give lip service to our troops. We can't
say on one hand that we support our troops, then on the other hand say, "The war is lost."Now, these
young men and women over in Iraq are there fighting for our safety and our security. They're also fighting
for the safety and security of our kids and theirs. And if we don't take on the terrorists, and we're
not willing to take on the terrorists in Iraq, where do we draw the line? And when do we stand up to
protect the safety and interests of the American people? Enough is enough. It's time to get a clean
bill on the president's desk and really support our troops.
Senator Lindsey Graham: Senator Chambliss?
Senator Saxby Chambliss: Well, thank you. And thank you, Bob, for headlining this today.
VFW does such a great job with all of our men and women, both active duty as well as retired. I just returned from my fifth trip to Iraq, Georgia's very proudly the home of the 3rd I.D., which is headquartered at Fort Stewart and at Fort Benning, Georgia.
And I had the opportunity in not just Baghdad, but in Tikrit, in Balad as well as in Ramadi, to visit
with members of the 3rd Infantry Division, who are on their third tour in Iraq. And the message I heard,
not just from the generals and the colonels, but from the privates and the corporals and the other enlisted
personnel, "Senator, we know why we're here. We're here for the right reason. We're here to protect
freedom." And this comes from brave men and women wearing the uniform of the United States, whether
they've been in the military for three years or 30 years. They're there because they know they're doing
the right thing.
I commend Lieutenant Nichols and Staff Sergeant Thul for coming up with
this idea. Because time and time again what I heard once again this past weekend is that, "Failure in
Iraq is not an option. We know because we're a part of the team that's fighting these folks who, if
we do fail, they are waiting to follow us to America." It's great to see the enthusiasm and the morale
at the height that it is in Iraq, and it's petitions and movements like this that will just increase
that. Thank you.
Senator Lindsey Graham: Eric?
Representative Eric Cantor: Thank you, Senator. Thank you. And I also want to give my thanks
and respect to the VFW, that have brought this petition forward. I think it means a lot. We're sitting
here on Capitol Hill. And I think what you see today is a difference of perspective, not party. Obviously,
the individuals here with me believe very strongly that the global war on terror is real. And we are
willing to fund that war on terror without strings, and to pass and put a clean emergency supplemental
funding on the president's desk without slowly bleeding our troops. In contrast, what we see in the
House is the majority party has now gone through 93 days of holding up the emergency troop funding,
and held captive by promulgating a bill that they know -- that we'll vote on tomorrow -- that they know
will be vetoed. Now, the Democrats in the House have talked of funding our troops on a two month to
month basis, gutting the ability for our commanders on the ground to plan their budget. I just left
a meeting a few minutes ago with Secretary Gates, who said again that the bill that we'll be voting
on the floor will hurt the readiness of our troops, and will hurt his ability to head up the Pentagon
and to execute the mission in Iraq. From the Iraq war appropriations, to the Patriot Act, to the status
of Guantanamo prisons, to NSA intercepts, to presidential elections, this debate has always been and
will continue to be about the future security of our nation. Scoring political points while our soldiers
are in the field fighting the forces of radical Islam is a dangerous and irresponsible move. It's time
to get down to business on a funding measure that will help our troops.
Senator Lindsey Graham: Senator DeMint?
Senator Jim DeMint: Thank you. This petition confirms what I've heard from dozens of soldiers in Iraq and back home, that
the talk of retreat emboldens their enemy. It makes their fight harder. And it endangers their lives.
Our colleagues here on the Hill need to hear that and they need to see this petition. Because the people
who are putting their lives at risk believe that they're doing the right thing and that this war is
winnable.
closing remarks
