On Friday, August 31, Post 6796 asked our members and guests to join us in recognizing the service of those who participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

More than 1.5 million soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines deployed to Iraq between March 20, 2003, and Dec. 18, 2011. More than 32,000 U.S. service members were wounded in action in Iraq and its surrounding area, and 4,486 made the ultimate sacrifice, a total almost double the number of lives lost worldwide in the Global War on Terrorism. On Dec. 18, 2011, the last convoy of American troops left Iraq and more than 21 years after Saddam Hussein’s forces invaded Kuwait, it seemed as though our nation could finally shift our focus away from Iraq. However, it only took three years before we were sending the U.S. military back to the country to combat the terror group ISIS through Operation Inherent Resolve.

Thank you for joining the more than 1.4 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary in honoring the veterans of the Iraq War and remembering those still deployed overseas protecting our freedom.

Tags: VPR, Iraqi Freedom