FRIENDS,
WE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER AT THIS SPOT TO REMEMBER AND TO REFLECT UPON THE LIVES OF FOURTEEN AMERICANS WHO PERISHED HERE SIXTY YEARS AGO—SIXTY YEARS AGO ON THIS DAY.
IT IS NOT OUR PURPOSE TO DEMEAN THIS OCCASION BY CONDEMNING THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS THAT RESULTED IN THE UNLAWFUL EXECUTION OF THESE MEN. RATHER, WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE LIVES OF THE FOURTEEN AND TO HONOR THE ROLES THEY PLAYED IN DEFENDING OUR NATION AND IN SPREADING THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM. IN HONORING THESE FOURTEEN, WE ALSO HONOR ALL OF THE ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR WHO SUFFERED AND WHO DIED IN THIS LAND DURING THAT GLOBAL CONFLICT.
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE. AND, IN THE ACT OF SPILLING THEIR BLOOD INTO THE SOIL ON WHICH WE STAND, THESE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS PLAYED A PART IN CREATING THE CONDITIONS OF NOURISHMENT THAT HAS ALLOWED FREEDOM TO BLOSSOM, AND NOW BLOOM, IN THIS PLACE—TAIWAN—A PLACE THAT IS SO FAR AWAY FROM WHERE EACH OF THEM SET OUT TO FIGHT A WAR TO PRESERVE DEMOCRACY AND THE FREEDOMS FOR WHICH THAT DEMOCRACY STANDS.
WHILE PRINCIPLES OFTEN LEAD SOLDIERS TO WAR, IT IS USUALLY SOMETHING ELSE THAT SUSTAINS THEM IN COMBAT. THEIR BELIEF IN GOD…THEIR THOUGHTS OF HOME AND LOVED ONES …THEIR SENSE OF HONOR AND DUTY…AND THE COMRADESHIP AND COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER THAT BINDS FIGHTING MEN TOGETHER.
I AM REMINDED OF A SCENE FROM THE MOVIE “FOUR FEATHERS,” A FILM THAT TELLS A STORY OF THE BRITISH ARMY FIGHTING IN 18TH CENTURY SUDAN. IN THE MOVIE, A BRITISH OFFICER, WOUNDED IN THE FIGHTING AND RETURNED TO ENGLAND…IN A MOMENT VERY MUCH LIKE THIS ONE, HE ADDRESSES A MEMORIAL SERVICE TO HONOR THE FALLEN. HE SAYS: “IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE IT CEASES TO BE AN IDEA FOR WHICH WE FIGHT, OR A FLAG. RATHER, WE FIGHT FOR THE MAN ON OUR LEFT…AND WE FIGHT FOR THE MAN ON OUR RIGHT. WHEN THE ARMIES ARE SCATTERED…AND WHEN THE EMPIRES FALL AWAY…ALL THAT REMAINS…IS THE MEMORY OF THOSE PRECIOUS MOMENTS WE SPENT SIDE BY SIDE.”
SO HERE TODAY, AT THIS PLACE, FACING A MOSS-COVERED STONE WALL THAT HAS WITNESSED MORE PAIN AND SADNESS THAT WE CAN KNOW, WE STAND SIDE BY SIDE AND ARE REMINDED OF THE BRAVERY AND COMRADESHIP OF FOURTEEN AMERICANS WHO DIED IN A FARAWAY FOREIGN LAND. FOR THEM WE OFFER UP A PRAYER THAT THE INHUMANITY THAT LED TO THEIR DEATHS WILL BE VANQUISHED BY THEIR SACRIFICE, AND THE REMEMBRANCE OF THAT SACRIFICE. THESE FOURTEEN MAY BE GONE, BUT THEY ARE CERTAINLY NOT FORGOTTEN. BLESS THEM AND HONOR THEIR MEMORY. THANK YOU.