14 June 2007: 232 Years and still going Army Strong

Today marked the 232nd celebration of the birth of the United States Army. During the early stages of the American Revolution, Continental Congress met in Cambridge, MA and authorized the formation of a national army. It was a very humble beginning. We weren’t even a nation and yet we were forming an army to take on the world’s foremost superpower – Great Britain. Not only were we successful, we’ve endured. The United States is the most prosperous, generous, free, and powerful nation in the history of the world. It could never have remained so had it not been for the creation, development, and maintaining of a professional army. Many times in our nation’s history there have been grave threats to our sovereignty. The army has stood strong against these threats – both external and internal. The result has been the preservation of our freedom. So Happy Birthday Army! Here’s to another 232 years of freedom to follow!

Here at LSAA it seemed like just another day. How did the occasion of the Army’s birthday get recognized? I didn’t notice any ceremony. The only indication of recognition came from the DFAC. At lunch they served a special meal of steak and crab legs. There was a huge sheet cake decorated with a birthday message to the Army. Although I knew what it was all for I decided to test a few soldiers. I asked ten different soldiers what the DFAC was celebrating (the tables were also decked out in red, white, and blue decorations). Only two of the soldiers correctly answered that it was the Army’s birthday. The rest of them either shrugged their shoulders or muttered “I don’t know sir”. I’ll chalk it up to the deployment. Every day seems the same and people lose track of dates and days of the week.

I noticed that Harry Reid chose the Army’s birthday as a good day to stick his foot in his mouth (again). So now he’s calling General Petraeus incompetent and saying the surge strategy is a failure. Gee Harry… thanks for your support. I’m sure insurgents all over Iraq are celebrating your kind words. I’m certain they all love you. What a fuckin’ idiot that guy is! President Harry Truman was known for the slogan “Give’em hell Harry!” Senator Harry Reid should go by the slogan “Unconditional surrender Harry”.

Hey it was also Flag Day! Did all of you display a flag? Flags are flying here every day. I guess that makes every day Flag Day at LSAA.