Remarks at the Araw ng Kagitingan Commemoration Dambana ng Kagitingan, Pilar, Bataan

April 7, 2009

Ambassador Kristie Kenney lays a wreath in memory of those who lost their lives during the Bataan Death March at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Ambassador Kenney congratulates Col. Rafael Estrada and Brig. Gen. Felix Pestana as they receive their certificates of approval for the new benefit under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

As delivered

Her excellency, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines; my colleague Ambassador Katsura, the Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines; Governor Garcia; Executive Secretary Ermita; General Yano; Members of the Congress of the Philippines; local officials; my colleagues from the diplomatic corps; and our beloved veterans and their families; magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. Magandang umaga mga beterano.

I feel very humbled, to stand up before you, knowing that sixty-seven years ago, you and the many others you represent stood up for the future of the Philippines and other peace-loving nations.  Many of you did so, I presume, and I’ve heard from your stories, not because of the great geopolitical issues of the times, but because you knew your country needed you; because you knew your family, your neighbors, your friends needed you to stand up for their future; and you needed to be strong.  So, you came and you served. You didn’t know at that time that your service would come to represent the face of freedom around the world.  You didn’t know at that time that your service would inspire generations later.  You didn’t know at that time that many of you would not survive.

These things we now know today and we honor not only those who fought and survived, but those who didn’t.  There are many brave civilians who also helped out those who were weak, who were failing, and in doing so risked their own lives; all in the cause of standing up to a moment when you were needed.

It’s very fitting, I think, that this year’s celebration falls in a Holy Week.  The Easter week, for those of us who are Catholics and other faiths as well, is an important week.  It’s a week in which we recognize new beginnings born of sacrifice.  We recognize the triumph of joy over despair and of light over dark.  So, as we celebrate today -- the heroism and the courage -- and we also celebrate the light of freedom you have given us; the joy of inspiration that we feel still today whenever we hear from you, see you or read of what you have done.  And most of all, we celebrate the new beginnings that this incredibly dark hour brought for all of our nations; a new era of better friendship of peace-loving countries who now work together inspired by your service.  I want to thank you on behalf of myself, on behalf of your families, on behalf of the United States of America, and all of your many fans and loved ones throughout the world.  Not just for what you did, but the inspiration that you have given all of us to stand up when we are needed to stand strong in the face of the darkest hours, and to always remember that you will have the courage if you are needed.

Thank you very much.  May God bless you in this very Holy Week.  God bless our veterans. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Maraming salamat.

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