Rep. Joe Kennedy III, Maj. Gen. John Deedrick, Command Sgt. Maj. Tomas Sandoval, 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), and Dr. William Kennedy Smith participate in laying a wreath at The John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington, Virginia on October 23, 2019. The ceremony is held yearly to commemorate President Kennedy’s contributions to the U.S. Army Special Forces, including authorizing the “Green Beret” as the official headgear for all U.S. Army Special Forces and his uncompromising support to the regiment. (U.S. Army video by Staff Sgt. Sidney Weston)
Transcript
[President Kennedy] Men risking their lives not as combatants but as instructors or advisors, or as symbols of our Nation’s commitments. The fact that the United States is not directly at war in these areas in no way diminishes the skill and the courage that will be required, the service to our country which is rendered, or the pain of the casualties which are suffered. This is another type of warfare, new in its intensity, ancient in its origins. War by guerrillas, subversives, insurgents, assassins, war by ambush instead of by combat, by infiltration instead of aggression, seeking victory by eroding and exhausting the enemy, instead of engaging him. It preys on economic unrest and ethnic conflicts. It requires in those situations, where we must counter it, and these are the kinds of challenges that will be before us in the next decade. If freedom is to be saved, a whole new kind of strategy, a wholly different kind of force, and therefore a new and wholly different kind of military training. (church bell chimes “Westminster Quarters”)
[Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret wreath-laying ceremony, in honor of President John F. Kennedy. Please rise and observe the singing of The National Anthem.
[Commander Of The Guard] Present, Arms! ♪ O say can you see ♪ ♪ By the dawn’s early light ♪ ♪ What so proudly we hailed ♪ ♪ At the twilight’s last gleaming ♪ ♪ Whose broad stripes and bright stars ♪ ♪ Through the perilous fight ♪ ♪ O’er the ramparts we watched ♪ ♪ Were so gallantly streaming ♪ ♪ And the rockets’ red glare ♪ ♪ The bombs bursting in air ♪ ♪ Gave proof through the night ♪ ♪ That our flag was still there ♪ ♪ O say does that star-spangled ♪ ♪ Banner yet wave ♪ ♪ O’er the land of the free ♪ ♪ And the home of the brave ♪ (jets fly over)
[Commander Of The Guard] Order, Arms!
[Chaplain] Let us pray. Almighty God, as we pause for a moment, I thank you for your love and your compassion, I thank you that you are a God who hears, a God who sees, and a God who cares. As we stand today on these hallowed grounds, we see with our eyes the beauty of your creation, and we see monuments and memorials in these fields of the faithful. Today, Lord, help us to remember. Lord, our eyes also fix upon a flame. A guiding light of principle and purpose that forever serves as a beacon of the call to expel the darkness of tyranny and to illuminate a way forward. Lord, thank you for this light that reminds us of the vision of President John F. Kennedy, a vision which still illuminates to this day. Herein, God, we stand, and we serve. Lord, light our path that we may acquit ourselves with honor always. I ask, Lord, for your mighty hand to guard those carrying on the mission for the Nation and the Free World this day, and in the days to come. Be near to us, as we strive to free the oppressed. I ask this humbly, in your mighty name, Amen.
[Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. When President Kennedy was laid to rest on these grounds in November 1963, Special Forces Green Berets were requested to be part of his Honor Guard. That Honor Guard is represented by the Green Berets standing before us today, in the cordon assembled upon these steps, and by the Color Guard of our national flag. Soldiers of the Old Guard and the Army Band were also there, and we are grateful for their participation in this ceremony. We are deeply honored that Congressman Joseph Kennedy, III, and Doctor William Smith of the Kennedy family have joined us today. In addition, Mrs. Lenny Donnelly, who worked for President Kennedy, is in attendance with her son, Trip Donnelly. We would also like to acknowledge Congressman Waltz, Lieutenant General (Retired) and Mrs. Tovo, Ms. Karen Aguilera, and the many Gold Star Families in attendance today. On behalf of the Soldiers, Civilians, and Families of the First Special Forces Command (Airborne), we humbly thank you for your attendance this afternoon. Among the 46 Green Berets in 1963 designated to guard the President’s gravesite, a Special Forces Non-Commissioned Officer, Command Sergeant Major Francis J. Ruddy, respectfully laid his own green beret upon the grave of his Commander-In-Chief, who, within the previous two years, had ensured Special Forces would be authorized to wear the same distinctive headgear. In this ceremony, we honor that selfless, heartfelt gesture of a Special Forces Soldier, and the emergent tradition, observed for decades, of laying a Green Beret wreath before the President’s grave. We continue to be inspired by President Kennedy’s words to the Special Forces commander, Brigadier General William P. Yarborough, when he said, “I know that you, and the members “of your command, will carry on for us, and the free world, “in a manner which is both worthy and inspiring. “I am sure that the the green beret “will be a mark of distinction in the trying times ahead.” Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, and honored attendees, today we acknowledge the enduring significance of President Kennedy’s vision to select the U.S. Army Special Forces as a premier unit with which to meet the global security challenges of his presidency and of the present. Green Berets continue to remain engaged across the globe, to meet the challenges entrusted upon the U.S. Army Special Forces Regiment. Ladies and gentlemen, will you please stand. Congressman Joseph Kennedy, and Dr. William Kennedy-Smith will now join Major General John Deedrick, Commander of the First Special Forces Command, in paying respect to President John F. Kennedy. (“Amazing Grace” on bagpipes)
[Commander Of The Guard] Present, Arms! Order, Arms!
[Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, we will now observe a moment of silence, followed by the playing of “Taps,” “The Ballad of the Green Beret,” and “The Army Song.”
[Commander Of The Guard] Present, Arms! (“Taps” plays)
[Commander Of The Guard] Order, Arms! ♪ Fighting Soldiers from the sky ♪ ♪ Fearless men who jump and die ♪ ♪ Men who mean just what they say ♪ ♪ The brave men of the Green Beret ♪ ♪ Silver wings upon their chest ♪ ♪ These are men ♪ ♪ America’s best ♪ ♪ One hundred men will test today ♪ ♪ But only three win the Green Beret ♪ ♪ Trained to live off nature’s land ♪ ♪ Trained in combat, hand-to-hand ♪ ♪ Men who fight by night and day ♪ ♪ Courage take, from the Green Beret ♪ ♪ Back at home, a young wife waits ♪ ♪ Her Green Beret has met his fate ♪ ♪ He has died, for those oppressed ♪ ♪ Leaving her, his last request ♪ ♪ Put silver wings on my son’s chest ♪ ♪ Make him one of America’s best ♪ ♪ He’ll be a man ♪ ♪ They’ll test one day ♪ ♪ Have him win the Green Beret ♪ (musical outro) (“The Army Song” begins) ♪ March along, sing our song, ♪ ♪ With the Army of the free ♪ ♪ Count the brave, ♪ ♪ Count the true, ♪ ♪ Who have fought to victory ♪ ♪ We’re the Army and proud of our name ♪ ♪ We’re the Army and proudly proclaim ♪ ♪ First to fight for the right, ♪ ♪ And to build the Nation’s might, ♪ ♪ And the Army goes rolling along ♪ ♪ Proud of all we have done, ♪ ♪ Fighting ’til the battle’s won, ♪ ♪ And the Army goes rolling along. ♪ ♪ Then it’s Hi! Hi! Hey! ♪ ♪ The Army’s on its way ♪ ♪ Count off the cadence loud and strong ♪ ♪ For where e’er we go ♪ ♪ You will always know ♪ ♪ That the Army goes rolling along ♪
[Chaplain] Let us pray. Almighty God, who art the altar of liberty, and the champion of the oppressed, hear our prayer. We, the men of Special Forces, acknowledge our dependence upon thee, in the preservation of human freedom. Go with us as we seek to defend the defenseless, and to free the enslaved. May we ever remember that our nation, whose motto is “In God We Trust,” expects that we shall acquit ourselves with honor, that we may never bring shame upon our faith, our families, or our fellow men. Grant us wisdom from thine mind, courage from thine heart, strength from thine arms, and protection by thine hand. It is for thee that we do battle, and to thee belongs the victor’s crown. For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory forever, Amen.
[Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. Ladies and gentlemen, the Soldiers of the First Special Forces Command Green Berets thank you for attending today’s wreath-laying ceremony in honor of President John F. Kennedy. Following the ceremony, there will be a short photo opportunity with the Green Berets and honorary wreath at the Eternal Flame for distinguished guests, as well as on the precipices for those that wish to remain, for approximately 15 minutes upon conclusion. For those riding a bus, please return to the bus in which you arrived. And all others, please travel safely. Thank you for coming today. De Opresso Liber.