Iraqi Government Honors America’s Iraq Fallen

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRAQ 3421 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: NATALIE GEWARGIS
(202) 640-8498

March 5, 2008

Iraqi Government Honors America’s Iraq Fallen

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Thursday, March 6, 2008, at 4pm Iraqi Military Attaché Staff Brigadier General Ismael Alsodani will present a plaque to Mr. Dan Carlson on behalf of Defense Minister Abdul al Qadir al Mufriji. Mr. Carlson is the brother of SGT. Michael Curtis Carlson, a U.S. Army engineer that was killed in action in Iraq on January 24, 2005. Mr. Dan Carlson will accept the plaque on behalf of America’s Iraq Fallen and their families.

A Sergeant with the Army’s 82nd Engineers, SGT. Carlson’s platoon was ordered to demobilize two bomb-making factories. Along with four comrades, he sacrificed his life for his country and freedom during that mission in January of 2005.

“As Iraqis, we are eternally grateful to America’s fighting sons and daughters for restoring to us the dignity of a free people. America’s fallen heroes, such as U.S. Army Sergeant Michael Curtis Carlson, along with their fallen Iraqi comrades, may have been robbed of their future, but in laying down their lives they have handed us ours,” said Minister al Mufriji. “We shall remember them, their names forever inked in the history books of the new and democratic Iraq.”

The Iraqi Ministry of Defense Plaque, to which a message of the President of the United States is attached, will be presented to the Superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery for display in the cemetery’s Hall of Remembrance.

The presentation takes place integral to a Congressional Reception in the United States Capitol, hosted by the Nebraska Congressional Delegation, to mark the appointment of Mrs. Francis S. Drath to the White House Commission on Remembrance, the independent agency of the U.S. Government, mandated by Congress to promote acts of remembrance in honor of America’s Fallen. The reception takes place on the eve of Iraq Liberation Day, April 9, which will be observed with a joint U.S.-Iraqi wreath-laying ceremony at Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery. H.E. Mr. Zalmay Khalilzad, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations and previous Ambassador of the United States to Iraq and H.E. Mr. Samir Sumaida’ie will both be principal celebrants. The joint wreath-laying ceremony will be hosted by Mrs. Drath alongside the Adjutants General of the United States, with Major-General Frank Vavala, the Adjutant General of Delaware and President of the Adjutant-General Association of the United States as Chair of the Host Committee.

Ambassador Samir Sumaida’ie said the following today: “There is no award capable of adequately conveying the gratitude of the Iraqi people for the American men and women who have sacrificed their lives for the people and freedom of Iraq. Iraqis will be eternally grateful for the ultimate sacrifice made by SGT. Michael Carlson and his family, and for the sacrifices made by his comrades and their families. These heroes shall never be forgotten.”

The above via Mrs. Francis S. Drath of the White House Commission on Remembrance. If you have questions or comments please leave them here and I will relay them to Mrs. Drath.

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Comments

[Debbie]

Miluimnik /Michael: Yes, I know, Pamela's article is correct. But I posted this so folks could comment, and thank you for doing so.

[Miluimnik]

At the Iraqi presidential palace, Mr. Ahmadinejad was greeted with multiple kisses from Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. (Blech.) An Iraqi military honor guard--make that a US-trained Iraqi military honor guard--saluted the two leaders. An Iraqi military band--make that a US-trained Iraqi military band--also played the Iranian and the Iraqi anthems. "Call me Uncle Jalal," Mr. Talabani told Ahmadinejad. "Iraqis don't like Americans," Mr. Ahmadinejad told the world.

From ""Whose side is Iraq really on?"

More here;

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2008/03/westwhose-sidei.html

[Michael]

Debbie...The Iraqi Government's "Condolences" are in step with those of the PLO denouncements of terrorism against Israelis. A week doesn't pass without a member of the Iraqi government speaking to the IRANIAN parliament or an Arab newspaper, to express solidarity with the Islamic world against the "Infidel Invaders" (That's how our "Allies" describe Americans).

Don't believe a word they say.

[Rosemary]

Dear Mrs. Drath,

Please convery my deepest gratitude to all the men and women, both Coalition Forces and Iraqi, for their bravery and perseverence. I am truly honored to live one of the countries who sought the freedom of our brothers and sisters across the ocean. Thank you seems so inadequate, but Thank you.

Dear Debbie,

Thank you for the honor of speaking to those who can let the others know that we do care, and we are also feeling the losses. Maybe not to the extent that they are, but we are remembering them as well. God bless them, their families, America, Iraq, and you.