Embassy of the United States in Manila

Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone
Remarks
at the “Araw Ng Kagitingan”

Observance of Philippine Veterans Week 2003
Mt. Samat, Bataan
Wednesday, April 9, 2003, 3:00 pm

H.E. Vice-President Guingona, Secretary Reyes, Ambassador Takano, Governor Roman, Bishop Ongtioco, veterans and soldiers of the Philippine and American armed forces, ladies and gentlemen.

I was deeply honored this morning to take part in the annual commemoration of this day of heroes at the Capas National Shrine. It is particularly moving likewise to stand here at Mt. Samat with so many living witnesses to the horrors, the heroism, and the hope for which the name “Bataan” now stands throughout the world, and through the generations.

The fight for Bataan and the cruel death march was the sternest test of human endurance and of the very meaning of humanity. The two succeeding generations of those who fell at Bataan, and of those others who suffered yet survived, have drawn inspiration and strength from their example.

Today, however, the most meaningful lesson of Bataan Day must be that despite the unspeakable cruelties and horrors of war, peace does triumph over war; freedom does defeat tyranny; hope ultimately does prove justified even in the most desperate situations -- provided that we who are free remain as dedicated as were our forefathers at Bataan to bearing the sacrifices necessary to defend freedom.

We prove these truths by gathering together in this ceremony. For today, on this spot where our countrymen once fought to the death, representatives of our three great democracies stand together as the closest of friends and allies. Our three peoples enjoy and share freedoms, prosperity, national strengths, and human potential that those who fell here could not have imagined.

As combat continues half the globe away, we salute the forces of the coalition fighting to liberate Iraq from dictatorship and to make our world safer from the most satanic weapons of terror and tyranny.

Of course, we feel the deepest compassion for the hundreds of the innocent who have suffered during the past three weeks of combat, and for the untold hundreds of thousands who have suffered not only death, but tortures far worse than death, during the past three decades of horrific repression. We pray no less for the former than for the latter.

But we look ahead to the day when free Iraqis and representatives of the countries who did not shrink from this cause can stand together, just as we Filipinos, Japanese, and Americans do here today, to celebrate the victory of freedom over tyranny, of humanity over cruelty, of peace over war.

On behalf of the United States, let me take this fitting occasion to thank our two fellow members of the Coalition for the disarmament and the liberation of Iraq, the Philippines and Japan, for standing with us in this high purpose. Our three countries now stand together in an urgent commitment to the task of helping Iraqis recover from generations of tyranny and war, and to rebuild their country and society in newfound freedom, just as Filipinos, Japanese, and Americans did following the redemption of Bataan over 60 years ago.

Maramaming salamat sa inyong lahat, at mabuhay.

###


Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone Remarks at the “Araw Ng Kagitingan” Observance of Philippine Veterans Week 2003 Mt. Samat, Bataan Wednesday, April 9, 2003, 3:00 pm H.E. Vice-President Guingona, Secretary Reyes, Ambassador Takano, Governor Roman, Bishop Ongtioco, veterans and soldiers of the Philippine and American armed forces, ladies and gentlemen. I was deeply honored this morning to take part in the annual commemoration of this day of heroes at the Capas National Shrine. It is particularly moving likewise to stand here at Mt. Samat with so many living witnesses to the horrors, the heroism, and the hope for which the name “Bataan” now stands throughout the world, and through the generations. The fight for Bataan and the cruel death march was the sternest test of human endurance and of the very meaning of humanity. The two succeeding generations of those who fell at Bataan, and of those others who suffered yet survived, have drawn inspiration and strength from their example. Today, however, the most meaningful lesson of Bataan Day must be that despite the unspeakable cruelties and horrors of war, peace does triumph over war; freedom does defeat tyranny; hope ultimately does prove justified even in the most desperate situations -- provided that we who are free remain as dedicated as were our forefathers at Bataan to bearing the sacrifices necessary to defend freedom. We prove these truths by gathering together in this ceremony. For today, on this spot where our countrymen once fought to the death, representatives of our three great democracies stand together as the closest of friends and allies. Our three peoples enjoy and share freedoms, prosperity, national strengths, and human potential that those who fell here could not have imagined. As combat continues half the globe away, we salute the forces of the coalition fighting to liberate Iraq from dictatorship and to make our world safer from the most satanic weapons of terror and tyranny. Of course, we feel the deepest compassion for the hundreds of the innocent who have suffered during the past three weeks of combat, and for the untold hundreds of thousands who have suffered not only death, but tortures far worse than death, during the past three decades of horrific repression. We pray no less for the former than for the latter. But we look ahead to the day when free Iraqis and representatives of the countries who did not shrink from this cause can stand together, just as we Filipinos, Japanese, and Americans do here today, to celebrate the victory of freedom over tyranny, of humanity over cruelty, of peace over war. On behalf of the United States, let me take this fitting occasion to thank our two fellow members of the Coalition for the disarmament and the liberation of Iraq, the Philippines and Japan, for standing with us in this high purpose. Our three countries now stand together in an urgent commitment to the task of helping Iraqis recover from generations of tyranny and war, and to rebuild their country and society in newfound freedom, just as Filipinos, Japanese, and Americans did following the redemption of Bataan over 60 years ago. Maramaming salamat sa inyong lahat, at mabuhay. ###
	Last Update :: 01/05/2007
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