Posted on 07/28/2004 2:01:37 PM PDT by Horatio Gates
Iraqis Pay Tribute to U.S. Service Members By Donna Miles American Forces Press Service
ARLINGTON, Va., May 27, 2004 — As the sound of "Taps" wailed from Army Sgt. Major Henry Sgrecci's bugle today, seven Iraqi citizens pressed their new prosthetic hands against their hearts at the Tomb of the Unknowns here to honor U.S. service members who have given their lives in Iraq.
Seven Iraqi merchants put their new prosthetic hands across their hearts May 27 while laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in honor of U.S. service members killed in Iraq. Photo by Donna Miles (Click photo for screen-resolution image); high-resolution image available.
The seven men, all Iraqi merchants, have been in the United States since mid- April to receive their new "bionic" hands to replace the ones amputated by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein as punishment for trading in U.S. currency. In addition to providing them with new $50,000 prosthetic hands, U.S. doctors in Houston also removed the tattoos Saddam had imprinted on the merchants' foreheads to draw further attention to their misdeeds.
During this week's visit to Washington, D.C., the Iraqis made a pilgrimage today to Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for 65 service members killed in Iraq. There, the group laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns to honor U.S. service members killed while overthrowing the brutal regime under which they and millions of other Iraqis had suffered for decades.
Nasaar Jondi, one of the merchants, reflected on his predicament nine years ago, as he sat in prison waiting for Saddam's doctors to chop off his right hand. The night before his sentence was carried out, Jondi wrote his wife, "Do not be sad. Hopefully Allah will replace my hand with an even better one." Today, as the proud recipient of a new prosthetic hand made possible through donations by U.S. medical facilities, medical staff, companies and citizens, Jondi reflected on his new fortune — personally and as an Iraqi citizen -- and the cost that made it possible.
"Without the tremendous sacrifices of American servicemen and women, we would never have had a new beginning and a new Iraq," he said.
Like nearly all Iraqis, Laith Agar had seen unforgettable suffering and death under Saddam —which he said gives him a greater appreciation for life and an appreciation for those willing to lay theirs down for others.
"Life is the most precious thing for a human being, and these people have made the ultimate sacrifice," said Agar, a resident of Baghdad. "They came to Iraq and died for Iraq and for all humanity. We will never forget the contributions these heroes have made."
Basin Al Fadhly said he wanted to visit Arlington National Cemetery to pay tribute to America's fallen warriors "and to express gratitude to the American people and the American Army that carried out the liberation of Iraq from Saddam."
For Hassan Al Gearawy, the visit to Arlington was a way to express his appreciation to the families — particularly the mothers — of U.S. service members killed in his country's liberation. "I wanted to salute them and express my thanks and gratitude to the mothers of those martyrs," he said.
Earlier this week, the group visited the White House, where President Bush told them he was "honored to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut off by Saddam Hussein."
The president praised Dr. Joseph Agris, a plastic surgeon based in Houston, who conducted the surgery to put new prosthetic hands on the Iraqis, and Don North, a documentary producer who brought the plight of the seven merchants to Agris's attention.
"These men had hands restored because of the generosity and love of an American citizen," Bush said. "And I am so proud to welcome them to the Oval Office."
"Without the tremendous sacrifices of American servicemen and women, we would never have had a new beginning and a new Iraq," he said.
!!!!!!
Dang, some good press, this is amazing. What a great story.
Replay BUMP
PING............
Hero's Bump!
Brokejaw and Blather did not report this, therefore it is a lie. /SARC
Thank you for the positive news post! This is wonderful.
We need more stories like this!
nice to see.
thanks for posting it.
Excellent article - Would love to see this on the news!
Double bump!
Excellent article - Would love to see this on the news!
Double bump!
the rare bit of good press...
Shhhh...don't tell the democrats, it'll ruin their day.
Thank you for that ping, Hair!
That's an incredible picture. Something you don't see in the dominant media.
bump
Thanks for the ping.
Here's hoping it gets "out there" in the mainstream press....
Well, a girl can hope, can't she?
I mentioned about the Iraqi's naming their kids Bush and George and some democrat(?) aquantance laughed. I said "no - its true they are so thankful to Bush to be free. It was one of those guys that had his hand chopped of in the toruture chamber and was in the U.S. getting a fake one fitted."
The aquantance said "well we SHOULD take care of him". I took that to mean he thought WE chopped his hand off in Abu Gahrib and explained that Saddam had done this to a bunch of guys that overcharged or something at their stores. He said - oh.
No, they got arrested for handling foreign exchange -- real money -- as well as Saddam's play-money dinars.
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