Pelosi: 'We Pay Tribute to All of Those Serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Throughout the World'

Washington, D.C. - In advance of next week's fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Congressional leaders spoke today at a U.S. Capitol remembrance ceremony honoring our troops, veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Below are her remarks:

'Here, in this beautiful Rotunda, we solemnly remember the service of the men and women of our Armed Forces on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of hostilities in Iraq, and we pay tribute to all of those serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and throughout the world.

'When our nation called, the brave men and women of our Armed Forces responded without delay. When sent into battle, they performed their duties effectively with bravery, dignity and honor that are the hallmarks of American soldiers, sailors, airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and Marines.  After five years of the war in Iraq, and more than six in Afghanistan, the selflessness of our heroes continues to make us proud.

'War extracts a terrible price.  Just in the past three days, 12 more of our heroes have fallen inIraq.  Every loss pains our hearts.

'Few understood the price and pain of war more deeply than America's most celebrated soldier, Dwight David Eisenhower, whose statue is the most recent addition to the Rotunda.  When his statue arrived, many of us were surprised to see the great man depicted not as President of theUnited States, but as a five star general. His family told us that this was how General Eisenhower wanted to be presented.

'Having seen the deadliest combat in human history, as well as the new, destructive force that ended World War II, Eisenhower devoted his presidency to reducing the risk of war.

'Upon leaving office, President Eisenhower concluded his farewell address with a prayer that 'in the goodness of time, all peoples will come to live together in a peace guaranteed by the binding force of mutual respect and love.'

'In the spirit of General Eisenhower, and under the gaze of his statue's watchful eye, we honor the service of our men and women in uniform, of our Armed Forces, of those who have returned home, and their brothers and sisters in arms whose loss we mourn every day.

'In the spirit of his farewell prayer, we seek to end conflict, promote peace, and build a future worthy of the sacrifice of our men and women.'