To the Editor:

[On] the 31st day of August 2010, the president of the United States of America gave a speech announcing the end of combat operations in Iraq.

In this speech there were no declarations of victory, no “mission accomplished” banners, and no proclamations of American superiority.

Instead, our president spoke of a solemn gratitude for the sacrifices our military and their families have made and a partnership with the Iraqi people as they rebuild their country after seven and a half years of war.

Our president also spoke of the signature injuries of this war, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

President Obama’s administration has made a solemn commitment to the treatment of these injuries and has increased Veterans Administration funding more than any administration in the past 20 years.

As a three-time Iraq War veteran who was there when we invaded the country, and struggles with PTSD, the president’s speech struck me deeply.

I am incredibly grateful to have a president who has put our veterans’ needs at the top of his priority list.

During his speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2008 the president said, “The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America — they have served the United States of America.”

I ask you to remember this today as you go about your daily routine.

Our service members have sacrificed everything for this country and all that they ask is that we take care of them when they finally return home.

We can be thankful that this administration has made doing that a top priority.