- Title: IRAQ: U.S. TROOPS HOLD VETERANS DAY CEREMONY AT THE MARTYR MONUMENT IN BAGHDAD.
- Date: 11th November 2003
- Summary: (U3) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (NOVEMBER 11, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. WS/MLV: U.S. HUMVEE IN FRONT OF MARTYR MONUMENT IN BAGHDAD. (2 SHOTS) 0.13 2. SCU: INTERIOR OF HALL - U.S. SOLDIER PLAYING A GUITAR AND SINGING AT MEMORIAL SERVICE. 0.24 3. MV: VIEW OF U.S. SOLDIERS LISTENING TO GUITARIST. 0.28 4. CU: BADGE OF U.S. FLAG ON SHOULDER OF U.S. SOLDIER. 0.34 5. VARIOUS: U.S. SOLDIER FINISHES SONG, AUDIENCE APPLAUDS. (3 SHOTS) 0.48 6. SCU: AUDIENCE LISTENING. 0.54 7. SCU: SOUNDBITE (English), U.S. SOLDIER ADDRESSING SOLDIERS GATHERED FOR MEMORIAL SERVICE, SAYING: "The young heroes of this generation wear it well. Consider what you have accomplished. You have toppled a regime hostile to the United States, you have defeated its army and destroyed its tools of war. You have remained on the offense against global terrorism, you have given the people of Iraq hope for their future." 1.16 8. VARIOUS: U.S. SOLDIERS STANDING UP AT END OF MEMORIAL. (2 SHOTS) 1.32 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 26th November 2003 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVA125W2ORY35SL8AWQUUASL3CSF
- Story Text: U.S. troops in Iraq observe Veterans Day against
a backdrop of attacks by guerrilla fighters.
Hundreds of U.S. troops in Iraq honoured their dead
comrades at a ceremony held at the Martyr Monument in the
capital city Baghdad on Tuesday (November 11).
At the simple memorial service, the U.S troops paid
tribute to all American soldiers who have died in battle or
related service since the First World War War.
An officer told those gathered that they were 'heroes'.
"Consider what you have accomplished," he told the
audience.
"You have toppled a regime hostile to the United
States, you have defeated its army and destroyed its tools
of war. You have remained on the offense against global
terrorism, you have given the people of Iraq hope for their
future."
On Veterans Day just one year ago, U.S. President
George Bush was threatening to commit the full force and
might of U.S. military against
Saddam Hussein unless he quickly disarmed.
This year, the Bush administration finds itself
empty-handed in the search for these weapons of mass
destruction. And daily attacks against remaining troops
have pushed the U.S. death toll in Iraq to nearly 300,
with more than half of those since Bush declared an end to
major combat operations on May 1.
The U.S. said earlier it will cut its troops in Iraq
from 132,000 now to 105,000 by mid-2004.
A total of about 15,000 reserve and National Guard
combat troops have been activated in recent weeks for Iraq
next year, and the 43,000 additional support troops, such
as communications specialists and military police, have
been told they were likely to see service in and near Iraq
or in direct support of the operation.
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