"new greatest generation" - Happy 4th

Gen. Allen's 4th of July letter
...To the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and Civilians of United States Central Command:

On this day in 1776, as they signed the Declaration of Independence, our country’s founding fathers pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to the cause of a new nation. In so doing, they not only declared American independence, they also established the ideals that have guided our country ever since.

Not quite a year later, in 1777, the stars and stripes became our nation’s symbol, our national colors. And over time, as people the world over saw the red, white, and blue of our flag, they recalled the freedom, liberty, and equality for which our country stands, for which generations of Americans in uniform have sacrificed, and for which we continue to fight today.
The stars and stripes sustained the spirit of our Army through the terrible winter at Valley Forge and our flag has inspired us ever since. Old Glory dressed the line on Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg, rallied the Marines to victory at Iwo Jima, and flew from the fantail of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. In 1948 however, General George C. Marshall also noted wisely that while America is a strong nation, we cannot live to ourselves and remain strong. Today, we see our flag displayed on Blackhawks and Humvees, on aircraft carriers and fighter jets, in tactical operations centers and combat outposts, flying high, alongside the colors of our friends, allies, and coalition partners. We fly our flags together as a sign of our mutual commitment to cooperation and sacrifice, as we serve shoulder-to-shoulder on and off the battlefield.

As we celebrate our proud heritage, let us remain mindful of the great sacrifices being made by America’s
new greatest generation -those men and women who are serving today in our all-volunteer military and civilian force. They are the finest, most combat-hardened, professional force in our nation’s history, and I could not be more proud of their performance. Let us also keep in our hearts our coalition partners who are serving alongside us, afloat and ashore. And mostly, let us forever be thankful for the truly wonderful support and the enormous sacrifices made by of our loved ones at home and around the world. Our families are core to our commitment and dedication to our nation, and it is their love and support that enable us to go forward and perform the mission we must.

Happy 4th of July,

John R. Allen
LtGen, United States Marine Corps
Acting