Happy 239th birthday, United States Army
The United States Army was established - as the Continental Army - on June 14, 1775.
The Caisson Song (Original US Army Song) - Singalong with Lyrics
Stripes - Graduation Scene - Bill Murray
239th Birthday of the United States Army Ping
Thanks for the link. Tweeted it.
FORT HUACHUCA — In 1910, President Teddy Roosevelt gave a speech in Paris and his words capture the meaning of what it is to be a soldier, the fort’s senior officer said Thursday.
Although Roosevelt’s words were not soldier specific, Maj. Gen. Robert Ashley said they do encapsulates Army service.
Speaking to a field full of soldiers at the end of a more than 2 mile run, Ashley, who commands the Intelligence Center of Excellence and the fort, said Roosevelt’s words have “captured the essence of our service to this great nation.”
The general made his comments two days earlier than the 239th anniversary of the establishment of the Army, on June 14, 1775.
While Roosevelt’s speech was titled “Citizenship in a Republic,” it has come to be known as “The Man in the Arena” speech, the general said.
Roosevelt said people need to do something with all of their heart, even if they fail, rather “than to be a bystander,” Ashley said.
Roosevelt also said “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better,” the general said.
Rather in 1910, Roosevelt noted success belongs to “the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs,” but continues to strive to succeed, Ashley said.
And if there is failure at least it is done “while daring greatly,” Ashley said.
Looking at the soldiers on Warrior Sentinel Field, he said, “When you raised your right hand to serve this great nation to defend the ideas of freedom and democracy you entered that arena described so eloquently by President Roosevelt.”
As soldiers “you are part of an honorable and noble profession that has been the cornerstone of American defense for 239 years,” the general said.
And from the time the young nation fought against Great Britain more than two centuries ago to today’s battlefields soldiers do it with resolve, Ashley said.
At the conclusion of his comments, the general and Pvt. Sterling Moss, who at 18-years-old was the youngest soldier present, cut a birthday cake with a sword. Moss is from Great Falls, Mont., and is assigned to Charlie Company of the 305th Military Intelligence Battalion, where he is in training to be an intelligence analyst.
Before cutting the cake, Ashley told the soldiers on the field and the audience behind him many wonder why the United States needs a large ground force.
The answer is “you only need to study history to know that there remains evil in the world and it will need to be dealt with … and while the soldier prays for peace it is the soldiers who must prepare for war,” he said.
Being prepared is the Army’s task and even though America is reducing its presence in Afghanistan “we remain an Army at war,” the general said.
The world is troubled and war has been part of history and what Greek philosopher Plato said is true when he remarked, “Only the dead have seen the end of war,” Ashley said.
What America’s enemies do not understand is the relentless spirit of soldiers can overcome everything, or as Gen. George Patton said, “I am a soldier, I fight where I’m told, and I win where I fight,” Ashley said, ending is speech with: “Happy Birthday Army!”
http://www.svherald.com/content/bill-hess/2014/06/12/379754 Great Photo
Happy birthday, U.S. Army.
Don’t expect a present though. I already gave you the best years of my life.