Transcript & Video: President Obama's Remarks, A Nation's Gratitude Dinner

"In one of our nation’s longest wars, you wrote one of the most extraordinary chapters in American military history..."
On Wednesday evening, Feb. 29, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed more than 200 guests to the White House for the A Nation's Gratitude Dinner, a tribute to the US forces who served during the Iraq war. The guest list of service members of all ranks and branches of the military, from every state in the US and territories, was designed to create a snapshot of the 1.5 million American who served in the almost-nine year war, from March, 2003 to December 2011. The President, Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, and Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, each spoke, and hailed the troops during the 8:20 PM event in the East Room. (Above: The President during his remarks)

"As your Commander-in-Chief, I could not be more proud of you," President Obama said. "In one of our nation’s longest wars, you wrote one of the most extraordinary chapters in American military history."

The President and Mrs. Obama were seated at different tables, with specially selected guests. All-American favorites were featured on the menu: Steak, potatoes, and vegetables, with a big chocolate finish. CLICK HERE for links to all posts about the dinner.



The White House released the transcript of the remarks today.

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

_______________________________________

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LEON PANETTA AND
CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS GENERAL MARTIN DEMPSEY
AT DINNER IN HONOR OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO SERVED IN O
PERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND OPERATION NEW DAWN
AND THEIR FAMILIES

East Room
February 29, 2012

CORRECTION: Updated below to correct the spelling of the last name of Staff Sergeant Kendall Damon Waters-Bey.

8:07 P.M. EST

GENERAL DEMPSEY: You can go ahead and keep -- you do whatever you got to do. I'll do whatever I got to do. (Laughter.) That’s what the chain of command is all about.

This morning, my wife, Deanie, we woke up and she said, "You know today is a special day." And I said, "Of course it is. We’ve been invited to the White House to celebrate the end of mission in Iraq." And she said, "No, no." I mean, she said, "That’s pretty cool, actually." But she said, "It’s also Leap Year. It’s the 29th of February. It only comes around once every four years." And then she said -- and so, in thinking about that, she said, "Do not sing. Don’t even think about singing at this event tonight." (Laughter.) "Because if you do, we are likely not to be invited back again for like the next four years." (Laughter.) And she said --

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Sing!

GENERAL DEMPSEY: No. (Laughter.) And she said, "Besides, the President has a better voice." (Laughter and applause.)

Now, sir, I’m your senior military advisor. I don’t agree with that assessment, personally. (Laughter.) But we’ll see.

I’m particularly honored tonight to be joined by the Joint Chiefs, who are scattered through the audience -- with General George Casey, with General Rick Sanchez, and General Lloyd Austin, who, honestly, have done some incredible heavy lifting for our nation over the past decade. You all stand tall in an exceptionally long list of dedicated leaders who put their heart and soul into seeing our difficult mission in Iraq through to completion.

For more than two decades -- that’s the thing to remember here -- for more than two decades, Iraq was a dominant part of our lives. In a sense, it was a family affair. And what I mean by that is some of us sent our own sons and daughters into this conflict over the past 20 years. All of us left our families behind. And tour after tour, they served and supported every bit as much as we did.

The road we traveled together was very tough. Every day required us to balance conflict and compassion, context and consequence. Everywhere and at every level, we learned the power of relationships -- relationships rooted in trust and respect within ourselves, but also with our Iraqi brothers and sisters.

And we saw just how profoundly impressive America’s fighting force, the Armed Forces of the United States -- soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen -- and family members like all of you here tonight, and those that I’ve known through the years, proudly represent. Because you, and those who didn’t come home with us, and those who returned forever changed, really made possible what we were able to accomplish in Iraq.

It was your courage, your resilience, and your sheer resolve to take care of each other, to defend our nation, and to provide the Iraqi people with a choice for their own future. Even in -- and maybe even, I’d say, especially in -- the toughest of times, your character and those you represent here tonight shine through. And it mattered.

Mr. President, Mrs. Obama, thank you for recognizing the service and sacrifice of the military family in this very special way. I really appreciate -- we really appreciate -- the support that you and the Vice President, and Dr. Biden and your wife, and those that they have bound together in the Joining Forces initiative, and the nation provide us, as men and women in uniform and the families that we represent. And I know that we all share a commitment to keep faith with them, and especially the thousands who have returned with wounds both seen and unseen.
There’s no one more strongly committed to their well-being than the person that I now have the opportunity and the privilege to introduce. Ladies and gentlemen, our Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Leon Panetta. (Applause.)

SECRETARY PANETTA: Thank you very much, General Dempsey. And he does have one hell of a voice. (Laughter.)

Thank you for your duty, for your dedication, for your service to this great nation that we all represent here this evening.

Tonight, we are truly in the company of heroes. The honor that we present to all of you is because we care about those who have fought and sacrificed in Iraq.

Mr. President, Mrs. Obama, we thank you deeply for honoring those heroes and welcoming them here into your home.

To all who fought in Iraq, we thank you for your service. You’ve earned our nation’s everlasting gratitude. We are indebted to you for your willingness to fight, your willingness to fight for your country. We are indebted to your families and to your loved ones for the sacrifices that they made so that their loved ones could help defend this nation.

Again and again and again, you left the comfort of family and friends, you left the comfort of this great country, and confronted brutal realities. Places like Baghdad, Ramadi, Fallujah, Sadr City, Najaf and elsewhere throughout Iraq. Your unflagging commitment and uncommon dedication helped the Iraqis realize a dream of building an independent and sovereign nation that could secure and defend itself.

It is not going to be easy, but the fact is you gave them the opportunity to be a democracy -- because of you. You are part of a generation of Americans -- the new, greatest generation of Americans -- responding to the call of duty by your nation. Deployment after deployment, you’ve been willing to serve this nation. You’ve been willing to put your lives on the line and you’ve been willing to die in order to protect this country.

You have done everything this country asked you to do. You return to a grateful nation. And you can stand proud of all you’ve accomplished. We owe all of you the honor that your service is deserving. And we owe to you the assurance that we will never forget the sacrifices of those who are not with us this evening -- those who gave their lives to this country. We pledge to their memory and we pledge to all of you that we will never forget and we will never retreat from what you’ve accomplished.

Last December in Baghdad, we cased the colors of the United States Forces Iraq. And I had the chance to be at that ceremony. And at the time I noted, this is not the end; this is truly the beginning.

For America tonight, this is not the end. It is the beginning of a long-lasting tribute to you and to all who served in Iraq. This country was built upon the service and sacrifice of men and women like you. Our very democracy depends on people like you, who are willing to step forward and defend this country, to salute and, yes, to fight to give each of us a chance to pursue the American Dream, giving our children a better life.
And just as you have recognized and fulfilled your responsibility to this nation, we must do the same for you. It is now our responsibility, the responsibility of communities at every corner of this country, to embrace your return, to welcome you back, and to ensure that you and your families have the support you deserve.

As Secretary of Defense, I can’t tell you how proud I am of you, and how proud I am of every American who serves this country in uniform.

And now it is my honor to introduce someone who believes deeply in that American Dream -- we are both products of that, as the children of those who came from other countries. And he is dedicated to defending and preserving that dream. I'm grateful to Vice President Biden and to Dr. Jill Biden for their continued strong support for our men and women in uniform. They have a son, Beau, who deployed to Iraq, so they know what this war is all about and the sacrifices that are required of military families.

Over the past three years, Vice President Biden has traveled to the region extensively and has played a tremendous role in steering Iraq policy. He probably deserves a combat badge for the political battles that he’s been involved in. And Jill has led the effort, along with Mrs. Obama, to support our military families.

On behalf of all of us at the Department of Defense, we thank the President, we thank Mrs. Obama, we thank the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden, for their leadership, for their support and for their dedication to a strong America. Strong in mind, strong in body and strong in spirit.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Vice President of the United States. (Applause.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT: I came because I was expecting a duet tonight. (Laughter.) I thought maybe we were going to hear you and my Irish friend actually sing, Mr. President. I’m betting on you. (Laughter.)

Hey, look, let me begin by saying that -- a special thanks to Generals Casey, Sanchez, Odierno and Austin. The good news for Casey and Sanchez, they only had to see me three or four times. Poor General O had to see me close to a dozen times, and General Austin put up with me at the end. I want to say to all of the brass in here and the Joint Chiefs -- we owe you a debt of gratitude because you have trained the finest generation of warriors -- and this is not hyperbole -- the finest generation of warriors in the history of this country -- and I would argue, in a literal sense, the finest generation of warriors in all of history.

I get frustrated as the President does when I hear talk about Generation X and how Generation X is -- they're not ready for all the travails that previous generations have been through. Most of you in this room are made up of what I call the 9/11 Generation. You are the most incredible generation this country has produced. Since 9/11, over 2.8 million of your generation, men and women, have joined the military, knowing, and in many cases, hoping, that you'd be sent into harm's way.

More than a million of you strapped on desert boots and walked across those god-awful sands of Iraq, with temperatures up to 135-140 degrees, averaging about 117 degrees in the summer. Over a million of you. A million of you.

This journey began nine years ago, when armored vehicles rumbled across the border of Kuwait and into one of the most challenging missions that the American military has ever undertaken. And all of you sitting at our tables tonight, you know better than anyone, it was something -- sometimes an impossible mission. Sometimes it was impossible to determine who the enemy was -- who the enemy was.

That was just a few short years ago. A few short years ago, there were literally hundreds of bodies a day being piled up in the Baghdad morgue. The highways became mine fields. Irish Alley was the place that was one of the most dangerous places in the world. Every convoy was a test of faith. And you saddled up, every single day, after seeing some of your buddies blown up, after cleaning out the vehicles, and you saddled up the next day.

A bullet slipped in an envelope and slid under a family's door became an unmistakable warning that they had to leave the house and the neighborhood or they would die. And while you may have been steeped in military doctrine -- and you have been -- you were also made to master the vagaries of local Iraqi politics -- issues ranging from electricity to unemployment, from currency exchange to tax collection.

You're incredible. You adapted. You succeeded. And you defeated. You defeated a tyrant. You beat back violent extremists. And the most remarkable thing you did, because of the breadth of your capability, you enabled a country that had not been governed in any reasonable way for over four decades -- you actually helped them set up institutions and train a military and a civilian corps that gives them a real fighting chance.

Today, because of you, rather than a giant vacuum in a strategically vital region, there's a prospect of stability and prosperity. And that wasn’t luck, it wasn’t an accident; it was your sacrifice and hard work that made it possible. And it will never be forgotten.

Harry Truman -- President Truman once described the end of a war as "a solemn but glorious honor -- excuse me -- "a solemn but glorious hour." I believe -- and it's presumptuous of me to interpret what he meant, but I believe that he meant that honoring those who fought also requires remembering those who were lost: 4,475. And the exact number is important -- 4,475 fallen angels. More than 30,000 wounded -- some of you in this room. Others bear, as Leon said, the invisible scars of their experience.

The President obviously will speak for himself, but I can tell you we're both awed -- awed -- by your sacrifice. But not just those of you who deployed, but your brothers, your sisters, your husbands, your wives, your moms, your dads.

John Milton, the English poet, once said, “They also serve who only stand and wait.” They also serve who only stand and wait. We owe you, your family members, almost as much as we owe you. Every morning I’d walk in and Jill would be getting her cup of coffee, standing over the sink, mouthing a prayer. You wives and husbands of the deployed person, your brothers and sisters -- there wasn’t an hour a day that didn’t go by that they didn’t flash across your mind -- wondering, is my husband, is my wife, is my son, is my daughter -- are they okay? It’s an incredible thing to ask of so many people.

And now, in the finest American tradition, having carried out your mission, you've come home. As I said when I was with General Austin and with Talabani and Barzani and a couple of you, Colonel, were there -- it’s good to see you here, Colonel, instead of in Baghdad.

But like every American before you, every warrior before you, you left Iraq, taking nothing with you but your experience, your achievements, and the pride associated with knowing that you did an incredible job. That’s an American tradition, too -- taking nothing but your pride back home.

So on behalf of a grateful nation -- there’s never going to be a way we can truly repay you, there’s no way to fully repay you -- but let me simply say thank you. Thank you and your families for the heroic work you’ve done. You’ve made a difference, and I think you’ve helped chart a different course for history in the 21st century.

But, ladies and gentlemen, a man that I’ve sat with every day for the past three years or so, I’ve watched him make the decisions he had to make about war and conflict. I’ve watched him, how he’s done it. And I know -- presumptuous of me to say -- I know -- I know every one of those decisions that had to be made hang heavy in his mind and his heart.

There's no one I’ve encountered -- and I’ve been here for eight Presidents -- who cares more about you, and all of you who continue to serve, than this man.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud -- I am proud to introduce to you your Commander-in-Chief and my friend, Barack Obama. (Applause.)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much. Thank you so much, everyone. Please, please. Please, everyone, have a seat.

Thank you, Joe Biden, for not only outstanding remarks, but the extraordinary leadership you showed in helping to guide our policies.

To Secretary Panetta; General Dempsey to all the commanders who are here and did so much under such extraordinary circumstances to arrive at an outcome in which the Iraqi people have an opportunity to chart their own destiny -- thank you for the great work that you’ve done.

I do have to say, despite Deanie’s advice, I thought Dempsey was going to burst into song. (Laughter.) You have not lived until you hear him belt out an Irish ballad. His voice is better than mine. I think you’re never a prophet in your own land, Marty, so your wives are there to cut you down a peg. (Laughter.)

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: This house has stood for more than two centuries, through war and peace, through hardship and through prosperity. These rooms have hosted presidents and prime ministers, and kings and queens. But in the history of this house, there's never been a night quite like this. Because this evening, we welcome, not the statesmen who decide great questions of war and peace, but citizens -- men and women from every corner of our country, from every rank of our military, every branch of our service -- who answer the call, who go to war, who defend the peace.

And in a culture that celebrates fame and fortune, yours are not necessarily household names. They're something more -- the patriots who serve in our name. And after nearly nine years of war in Iraq, tonight is an opportunity for us to express our gratitude and to say once more: Welcome home.

This is not the first time that we’ve paid tribute to those who served courageously in Iraq. This will not be the last. And history reminds us of our obligations as a nation at moments like this. This year will mark the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, a time when our veterans didn’t always receive the respect and the thanks that they so richly deserved -- and that’s a mistake that we must never repeat.

The good news is, already, we’ve seen Americans come together -- in small towns and big cities all across the country -- to honor your service in Iraq. And tonight, on behalf of Michelle and myself, on behalf of over 300 Americans -- 300 million Americans, we want to express those simple words that we can never say enough, and that’s thank you.

In your heart, each of you carries your own story -- the pride of a job well done; the pain of losing a friend, a comrade. Ernie Pyle, who celebrated our GIs in World War II, said that your world can never be known to the rest of us. Tonight, what we can do is convey what you’ve meant to the rest of us. Because through the dust and the din and the fog of war, the glory of your service always shone through. In your noble example, we see the virtues and the values that sustain America, that keep this country great.

You taught us about duty. Blessed to live in the land of the free, you could have opted for an easier path. But you know that freedom is not free. And so you volunteered and you stepped forward, and you raised your hand and you took an oath -- to protect and defend; to serve a cause greater than yourself, knowing, in a time of war, you could be sent into harm’s way.

You taught us about resolve. Invasion turned to insurgency and then sectarian strife. But you persevered, tour after tour, year after year. Indeed, we’re mindful that even as we gather here, Iraq veterans continue to risk their lives in Afghanistan, and our prayers are with them all tonight.

In one of our nation’s longest wars, you wrote one of the most extraordinary chapters in American military history. Now the Iraqi people have a chance to forge their own destiny, and every one of you who served there can take pride in knowing you gave the Iraqis this opportunity; that you succeeded in your mission.

You taught us about devotion -- to country and to comrades, but most of all, to family. Because I know that some of the hardest days of war were the moments you missed back home -- the birthdays, the anniversaries, when your little girl or boy took their first wobbly steps. And behind every one of you, was a parent, a spouse, or son or a daughter, trying to stay strong, and praying for the day that you’d come home safe. And that’s why Michelle and Dr. Biden have made it their mission to make sure America takes care of your families, because they inspire us as much as you do. They deserve that honor as much as you do.

That’s why I’d ask all the spouses and the partners and families to stand up and accept our gratitude for your remarkable service -- especially because you look so good tonight. (Applause.)

You taught us about sacrifice -- a love of country so deep, so profound, you were willing to give your lives for it. And tonight, we pay solemn tribute to all who did. We remember the first, on that first day of war: Major Jay Thomas Aubin; Captain Ryan Anthony Beaupre; Corporal Brian Matthew Kennedy; Staff Sergeant Kendall Damon Waters-Bey. And we remember the last -- Specialist David Emanuel Hickman, November 14, 2011.

Separated by nearly nine years, they are bound for all time, among the nearly 4,500 American patriots who gave all that they had to give. To their families, including the Gold Star families here tonight, know that we will never forget their sacrifice and that your loved ones live on in the soul of our nation -- now and forever.

You taught us about strength -- the kind that comes from within; the kind that we see in our wounded warriors. For you, coming home was the start of another battle -- the battle to recover, to stand, to walk, to serve again. And in your resilience we see the essence of America, because we do not give up. No matter the hardship, we push on. And just as the wounds of war can last a lifetime, so does America’s commitment to you and all who serve -- to give you the care you earned and the opportunities you need as you begin the next proud chapter in your lives.

And finally, all of you taught us a lesson about the character of our country. As you look across this room tonight, you look at our military -- we draw strength from every part of our American family -- every color, every creed, every background, every belief. And every day, you succeed together -- as one American team.

As your Commander-in-Chief, I could not be more proud of you. As an American, as a husband and father of two daughters, I could not be more grateful for your example of the kind of country we can be, of what we can achieve when we stick together.

So I’ll leave you with a picture that captures this spirit. It’s from that day in December, when the last convoy rolled out -- five American soldiers standing beside their vehicle, marked with the words, "Last vehicle out of Iraq." They’re young, men and women, shoulder to shoulder, proud, heads held high, finally going home. And they were asked what it was like to be, literally, the last troops out of Iraq. And one of them gave a simple reply: "We completed the mission." We completed the mission. We did our jobs.

So I propose a toast. To the country we love. To the men and women who defend her. And to that faith -- that fundamental American faith -- that says no mission is too hard, no challenge is too great; through tests and through trials, we don’t simply endure, we emerge stronger than before, knowing that America’s greatest days are still to come -- and they are great because of you.

Cheers.

God bless you and your families. And may God continue to bless those in uniform and the United States of America.

Thank you very much, everybody. May dinner be served. (Applause.)

END 8:40 P.M. EST
##
Photo by Lawrence Jackson/White House

The Menu: A Nation's Gratitude Dinner

President and First Lady pay tribute to troops with traditional American favorites...
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed more than 200 guests to the White House on Wednesday evening for the black-tie A Nation's Gratitude Dinner, honoring members of the Armed Forces who served in Iraq. The All-American menu for the veterans, who represented every branch and rank of military service and every state in the union and the territories, starred Dry-Aged Rib Eye as the entree, accompanied by Yukon Gold Potato Croquettes. Beef has an unbroken winning streak as the entree of choice for the President and Mrs. Obama's high-profile dinners. The menu opened with a Salad of Heirloom Tomatoes with Baby Mozzarella, and finished with a Chocolate Crème Brûlée. The American wines served were from California. Above: The President seated with his guests; he and the First Lady sat at different tables. Their guests are listed below. The President's remarks ARE HERE; and here's the full guest list.

Round tables for ten filled the East Room for the 8:20 PM event, which began with a cocktail reception. Tablecloths were a pale blue brocade, with tall vermeil candle sticks containing tall silver/gold tapers. The floral arrangements, low vases with purple and mauve roses, seem to have been recycled from the President and Mrs. Obama's formal 2012 Governors' Dinner last Sunday. The Roosevelt State China Service was used, according to the East Wing. (Above: A longshot of the East Room)

A Nation's Gratitude Dinner

First
Salad of Heirloom Tomatoes with Baby Mozzarella
Basil and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Wine: Chappellet Chardonnay “Napa” 2009
(Napa Valley, CA)

Entree
Dry-Aged Rib Eye
with Bearnaise sauce, atop a bed of spinach
Yukon Gold Potato Croquettes
Baby Mizuna
Asparagus, Green Beans

Wine: Pride Mountain Merlot “Vintner Select” 2008
(Napa Valley, CA)

Dessert
Chocolate Crème Brûlée
with Brownie and Mini-Chocolate Malted

Wine: Chandon Blanc de Noirs
(Northern California)

The President and Mrs. Obama were seated at separate tables. Joining the President: CW4 Nelson A. Visaya, from Hawaii; Gunnery Sergeant Deverson Lochard from Silver Spring, MD; Petty Officer Third Class (HM3), Max R. Rohn from Longmont, CO; Master Sergeant Jeremy D. Coombs, Master Sergeant Jessica R. Coombs and 1st LT Paul S. Gonzalez.

Mrs. Obama was joined by Gold Star family Kim Felts and her children, Rebekah, 19, and Thomas, Jr., 15. Their fathe and Mrs. Felts' husband, Army Colonel Thomas Felts, Sr. was killed in Iraq on November 14, 2006. An interview with Mrs. Felts IS HERE. She is visible in the photo above, at left.

CLICK HERE for links to all posts about the thank-you dinner for America's Iraq veterans and military families.

The President's remarks:

*Top photo by Pete Souza/White House; second AP/Pool

President Obama's Table, A Nation's Gratitude Dinner

President and First Lady joined by specially selected guests...
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were seated at different tables during Wednesday night's A Nation's Gratitude Dinner. The 8:20 PM event in the East Room was a tribute to the Armed Forces and marked the end of the war in Iraq. More than 200 guests attended, with 78 service members of all branches and ranks selected to represent the 1.5 million Americans who served during the war. The full guest list. The menu of traditional American favorites is here. (Above: The President at his table with Visaya, left and Lochard)

Joining the President: CW4 Nelson A. Visaya, from Hawaii; Gunnery Sergeant Deverson Lochard from Silver Spring, MD; Petty Officer Third Class (HM3), Max R. Rohn from Longmont, CO; Master Sergeant Jeremy D. Coombs, Master Sergeant Jessica R. Coombs and 1st LT Paul S. Gonzalez.

Mrs. Obama was joined by a Gold Star family: Kim Felts, whose husband Army Colonel Thomas Felts, Sr., was killed in Iraq on Nov. 14, 2006, and their two youngest children, Thomas, Jr., 16, and Rebekah, 19. CLICK HERE for an interview with Kim Felts, at left of the First Lady in the photo above.

In this DoD video, Visaya talks about attending the dinner:



CLICK HERE for links to all posts about the thank you dinner for America's Iraq veterans and military families.

*AP photos; DVIDS video

The Presdent And First Lady Arrive At The A Nation's Gratitude Dinner

Above, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama enter the East Room at the beginning of the formal A Nation's Gratitude Dinner on Wednesday evening. The First Lady's gown was designed by Jason Wu, according to the East Wing. Wu's most famous design for Mrs. Obama was the cream colored gown she wore to the President's Inaugural Balls. Mrs. Obama embellished with earrings by designer Suzanna Dai.

CLICK HERE for links to all posts about the tribute to America's Armed Forces who served in Iraq. *AP phot0

President Obama's Interview With Bob Woodruff

Ahead of the A Nation's Gratitude Dinner on Wednesday evening at the White House, President Obama spoke with Bob Woodruff in an ABC News exclusive. On January 29, 2006, Woodruff was seriously injured by an IED while in Iraq. When he was able to return to work, Woodruff spent much of his time reporting on the struggles wounded Iraq veterans faced when they return home.

CLICK HERE for links to all posts about the thank you dinner for America's Iraq veterans and military families.

*ABC video

Gold Star Family Will Sit With First Lady Tonight At "A Nation's Gratitude" Dinner

Kim Felts and her children will symbolize the families of the 4,475 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq war...
Kim Felts was asleep at her home in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on the morning of Nov. 15, 2006, when there was a knock at the door at 6:00 AM. The news changed her life forever: Her husband, Army Colonel Thomas H. Felts, Sr., with a Military in Transition Team stationed in Baghdad, had been killed the night before, aged 45. He left behind his wife of 23 years and four children, 3 girls and 1 boy, all still in school. This evening, the Gold Star wife and her two youngest, Thomas, Jr., 16, and Rebekah, 19, will attend President Obama and First Lady Obama's A Nation's Gratitude Dinner. Felts and the kids will be seated with the First Lady at her table in the East Room. Thomas Jr. will be wearing his father's pocket watch with his new tuxedo as he mingles with the Obamas, top military brass and US service members from all 54 states and territories and the District of Columbia. (Above: Felts speaking at the Survivor Outreach Services annual training in Orlando, Fla)

Though sorrow is what led to the White House invitation, Kim Felts is very excited about the evening.

"I think it's a great way for the country to honor the sacrifice and accomplishment of the war in Iraq and to say thank you," Felts said.

"And it's beyond my wildest dreams to sit beside the First Lady."

The family now lives at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where Felts has worked for three years for the Special Forces Command as a Family Readiness Program Specialist, devoted to helping other military widows deal with their "new normal," the grief that follows losing a loved one. She'll be telling Mrs. Obama about her work during dinner. Felts was instrumental in developing the outreach program; Mrs. Obama has relied on military family members like Felts for grassroots advice for her Joining Forces campaign.

The First Lady may have some weepy moments. She and the President hail military families as "the force behind the force," and Felts is indeed a force. Her husband, who served for two decades without going into combat before his Iraq deployment, was killed two days before he was scheduled to return home for R & R after eleven months in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Felts tells the story with the kind of calm that puts the sorrow in high relief.

"I have no regrets," Felts says. "I would live this life all over again."

Childhood sweethearts...
The couple met in high school and dated for seven years before they married when she was 23 and he was 24, and stationed at the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. While attending University of Richmond, Tom, Sr. drilled with the Army Reserves and then was a member of the National Guard before rising through the Army ranks. Her husband had been trying to go to the Middle East since 9/11, Felts said, and when he finally got his first opportunity to go to Iraq in December of 2005, she encouraged him to go, never fearing for his safety.

Then a senior service fellow in the Advance Operational Art Studies Fellowship of the School of Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, the Colonel volunteered for his tour and deployed in January of 2006. On the night he was killed, he was returning from a meeting at 11:30 at night, and went to clear an abandoned truck, a routine stop on the way back to his base. His vehicle was the first in a line of vehicles, and when they stopped at a concrete security barrier that turned out to be booby trapped with a bomb, that was it. The IED was triggered by a laser.

"He died within 30 minutes of being hit, his gunner was killed instantly, the interpreter was severely wounded," Felts said. The driver had cuts and bruises.

About 1.5 million Americans served in Iraq, beginning in March of 2003. 4,475 Americans were killed, and more than 32,000 were wounded.

Felts stressed that her husband "made the call, he chose the route" that was driven on the night he died, and that no one else was responsible for the kind of war casualty that was a daily fact of life for US troops during the combat operations in the Middle East.

"He lived his life doing what he loved, and died that way," Felts said.

He is buried in the small town where he was born and grew up, at Seven Pines Federal Cemetery, in Seven Pines, outside of Richmond.

There is one memory that bolsters Felts. The couple had regular Skype sessions each week, around 4:00 PM US time, but they'd had a brief phone call the morning Colonel Felts died; she was worried because the US news was filled with reports of a kidnapping in Afghanistan. The Colonel assured her he was fine, they joked a little, and he told her he loved her, and said he'd speak to her later during their regular Skype session. The call never came, but even then, Felts wasn't worried, she said.

"Isn't that a great last conversation?" Felts said. "He told me he loved me."

The kids are now doing "really well," Felts said, and she is duly proud of the fact that they remember their father for his deeds, rather than focusing on his death and their own loss. The children, she said, knew their father loved them and was very proud of them. Eldest daughter Sara Beth Bedgood, now 24, went to college and graduate school, and is now a social worker. She got married last June, "oddly enough," Felts said, to a reserve MP. Second daughter LeAnna is 22, and finishing her college degree in wetlands science. Rebekah, who will join her mother beside Mrs. Obama this evening, currently works full time at a Texas Roadhouse restaurant, and is heading to college in the Fall. The Colonel's death has been hardest on Thomas, Jr., Felts said.

"From the time he was born he was a daddy's boy," Felts said. "They were really close. It's hard to grow up in a house full of girls without that male role model."

Nerves and excitement about the White House visit...
The three Felts who will be at the White House this evening have never visited before, and though the President and Mrs. Obama have made stops at Fort Bragg, somehow they missed each opportunity to see the First Couple.

"I barely slept last night," Felts said. "I'm nervous!"

This evening, she'll be wearing the same bright pink gown she wore for her daughter's wedding.

"I have that great wedding memory in the dress already," Felts said.

The dinner, she said, "will be beautiful."

"I love the pageantry of formal military affairs."

Though there have been calls by some veterans' groups for a national ticker tape parade to mark the end of the war, Fells said she feels it's too early, since there are still troops deployed in Afghanistan.

She and the kids have rehearsed what they might say to the President and Mrs. Obama this evening. Thomas Jr. is a sports fanatic, and Felts, laughing, said she suggested he challenge the President to a game of hoops after dessert. Well aware of the First Lady's Kitchen Garden, Felts said she couldn't really have that conversation with Mrs. Obama: "I have a brown thumb."

Colonel Felts will one day hear the story of the dinner: The family is deeply religious, and has a deep faith in God, Felts said.

"I know we'll see him again one day," Felts said. "I know where he is."

*CLICK HERE for more on the dinner details and the guest list

*Photo by Evan Dyson, IMCOM Public Affairs

Tonight: President Obama Honors Iraq Veterans With "A Nation's Gratitude" Dinner; Guest List...UPDATED

UPDATE: CLICK HERE for links to the President's remarks, the menu, and other posts...
To pay a formal tribute to members of the US Armed Forces who served during the war in Iraq, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will welcome more than 200 guests to the White House this evening for the "A Nation's Gratitude" Dinner. The black-tie affair begins in the East Room at 8:20 PM. 78 US service members of all ranks, services, and backgrounds from the 54 states and territories and the District of Columbia will join the President and Mrs. Obama, selected to be "representative of the many thousands of Americans who served in Iraq" during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, according to the White House. Army Reserves and Coast Guard are included. There will be a livestream of part of the event at Whitehouse.gov/live, at the beginning of the dinner.

"The President looks forward to this," Press Secretary Jay Carney said on Tuesday.

"He is enormously appreciative of the sacrifice and service that the men and women in uniform who served in Iraq provided to their country. And obviously, some of them provided the ultimate sacrifice."

The guest list includes Gold Star family members, those who lost a loved one in the almost-nine-year war that officially ended in December of 2011. The President and Mrs. Obama will be seated at different tables, and Mrs. Obama will sit next to Kim Felts, a Gold Star wife from Fayetteville, NC. Her husband, Colonel Thomas H. Felts, Sr. passed away on November 14th, 2006 in Baghdad, when an explosive detonated near his vehicle. They had four children, and the two youngest, Rebekah and Thomas, now in high school, will also be seated with the First Lady.

Vice President Joe Biden, who visited Iraq eight times following the 2008 election, and Dr. Jill Biden will attend the dinner, as will Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the chiefs of the five branches of service. US Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, the final commander of US Forces Iraq, is also on the guest list, as are the other commanders from the combat operations. President Obama made his first visit to Iraq as Commander in Chief in April of 2009.

Celebrating the end of a war with a formal White House dinner is a first for any presidential Administration. The Pentagon characterized the dinner as the equivalent of a State Dinner when first announcing the event, but it is less elaborate, while more solemn. In contrast to a State Dinner, there will be no formal arrival ceremony at the White House this evening, and no special musical entertainment, according to an East Wing spokesman. There will be a cocktail party before dinner, and a receiving line with the President and Mrs. Obama.

More than 100 guests received official invitations from the White House, and each was invited to bring a companion. Many of the 78 service members were wounded in combat, and/or were honored for valor. The Army has the most service members invited, followed by the Marine Corps. There are 14 women service members on the guest list, which was hand-picked by a senior panel of representatives from all five branches of service.

Openly gay service members are included, according to Pentagon spokesman Doug Wilson, to highlight the Obama Administration's achievement in ending the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

"Mrs. Obama wanted to make sure that the room that night represented the America that served in Iraq," Wilson said.

The First Lady and Dr. Biden lead the Joining Forces campaign to support and honor military families. The initiative will mark its first anniversary in April.

President Obama "will certainly be engaging with those in attendance at the dinner," Carney said.

"He looks forward to his encounters with the men and women who have served our Armed Forces very much."

About 1.5 million Americans served in Iraq, beginning in March of 2003. 4,475 Americans were killed, and more than 32,000 were wounded.

Below, an updated guest list from the Department of Defense, which includes the names of invited guests' companions. Below is the guest list of the 78 service men and women who were invited.

Full Guest List...

THE PRESIDENT and MRS. OBAMA

THE VICE PRESIDENT and DR. BIDEN

SGT Sarah M. Adams, Killeen, TX, and Captain William Messick, Belton, TX

Mr. Eric Alva, San Antonio, TX and Dustin L. Jones, Arlington, VA

Chaplain (Colonel) Daniel Ames, Joint Staff Chaplain, Alexandria, VA

T.H. Brooke Anderson, DAP & NSS Chief of Staff & Counselor, NSS, Washington, DC, and COL Steven Miska, Washington, DC

Major General Vaughn Ary, Alexandria, VA, and Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Ary, Alexandria, VA

General Lloyd J. Austin III, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, DC, and Mrs. Charlene D Austin, Washington, DC

SgtMaj Michael Barrett, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Andrews AFB, MD, and Mrs. Susan Marie Barrett, Andrews AFB, MD

SgtMaj Bryan Battaglia, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,Fort Myer, VA, and Mrs. Lisa Lynn Battaglia, Fort Myer, VA

LTC Beth Anne Behn, Cornwall on Hudson, NY, and Ms. Julianna Shappy, Cornwall on Hudson, NY

TSgt Christian A Bennett, Evansville, WI, and Mrs. Rachael M. Bennett, Evansville, WI

PO2 Lawrence Benson, Jr., Buffalo, NY, and Mrs. Stacey Benson, Bennettsville, SC

The Honorable (Major) Joseph Beau Biden III, Wilmington, DE, and Mrs. Hallie Biden, Wilmington, DE

The Honorable Antony Blinken, Deputy Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor, Office of the Vice President, Office of the Vice President, Washington, DC, and Ms. Bobbi Doorenbos, Washington, DC

MSgt Brian Blonder, Woodbury, TN, and Mrs. Maureen Porter, Missoula, MT

SMSgt Donnie Bolton, Colorado Springs, CO, and Mrs. Tracy Lynn Bolton, Colorado Springs, CO

PO1 Anthony Bozarth, Hampton, VA, and Mrs. Michelle Bozarth, Hampton, VA

MSgt Kevin Bullivant, Clinton, UT, and Ms. Kathleen Blanchard, Clinton, UT

General George W Casey, Jr., Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, DC, and Mrs. Sheila L Casey, Alexandria, VA

CPO Joseph Castro, Williamsburg, VA, and Ms. Isiris Reyes Maldanado, Williamsburg, VA

SMA Raymond Chandler III, Sergeant Major of the Army, Fort Myer, VA, and Mrs. Jean Marie Chandler, Fort Myer, VA

PO1 Jay Choi, Virginia Beach, VA, and Mr. James Gregory, Statesville, NC

CAPT Charles B. Cooper, East Wing, Falls Church, VA, and Mrs. Susan Star Cooper, Falls Church, VA

CW5 David F. Cooper, Fayetteville, NC, and Mrs. Mary Catherine Cooper, Fayetteville, NC

SFC Miguel A. Cruz, Manitowoc, WI, and Mrs. Sheila Cruz, Manitowoc, WI

LT James Cullen, Portsmouth, VA, and Mrs. Kathleen Cullen, Lake Hopatcong, NJ

General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Fort Myer, VA, and Mrs. Deanie Dempsey, Washington, DC

Mr. Richard DeNoyer, National Commander, VFW, Middleton, MA, and Ms. Theresa D DeNoyer, Middleton, MA

Colonel Todd Desgrosseilliers, Stafford, VA, and Mrs. Christiana Desgrosseilliers, Stafford, VA

The Honorable Thomas Donilon, Assistant to the President, National Security Advisor, NSC, Washington, DC, and Ms. Cathy Russell, Deputy Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to Dr. Jill Biden, Washington, DC

SFC Sebastian K Ellis, Wilmington, DE, and Mrs. Christie Ellis, Wilmington, DE

Kim Felts, Family Readiness Program Specialist, U.S. Army Special Forces Command, Fayetteville, NC, and Mr. T.J. Felts, Fayetteville, NC (Son), and Ms. Rebekah Felts, Fayetteville, NC (Daughter)

Sgt Richard Fiske, Tappahannock, VA, and Mrs. Jennifer Lee Fiske, Tappahannock, VA

Mr. Matthew Flavin, Denver, CO, and Mr. Jonathan Fairbank Kuniholm, Durham, NC

SPC Janice Flores, Chalan Pago, GU, and Ms. Emily Blas, Washington, DC

SFC James Gaston, St. Croix, VI, and Mrs. Messelena Gaston, St. Croix, VI

Sgt John Gladstone, Woodbridge, VA SSG Jed Glover, El Paso, TX, and Mrs. Patricia Glover, El Paso, TX

1LT Paul S. Gonzalez, Derby, KS, and Mrs. Johanna Gonzalez, Derby, KS

Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, DC, and Mrs. Darleen Greenert, Washington, DC

GySgt Tawanda Hanible, Fredericksburg, VA, and Mr. Donald Hanible, Fredericksburg, VA

Captain Brian D Hartman, DeRidder, LA, and Mrs. Kelly Hartman, DeRidder, LA

SCPO Christopher Henderson, Chesapeake, VA, and Mrs. Marie Henderson, Chesapeake, VA

1stSgt Christina Huntshorsemay, Stafford, VA, and SSgt Joseph Robert May, Stafford, VA

Major Erik Jacobson, North Las Vegas, NV, and Mrs. Kristi Jacobson, North Las Vegas, NV

Sgt Nytayia Jamison, Stafford, VA, and Sgt David Lomeli Lopez, Stafford, VA

CMSgt Denise M Jelinski-Hall, Senior Enlisted Leader, National Guard Bureau, Andrews AFB, MD, and Mr. Gary Hall, Andrews AFB, MD

Lieutenant Benjamin J. Kostka, Virginia Beach, VA, and Mrs. Alicia Kostka, Virginia Beach, VA

SGT Joshua R Labbe, Sherman Oaks, CA, and Captain Kyle Brown, Carthage, NY

MSgt Shane Lacaillade, Warrensburg, MO, and Mrs. Christine Annette Lacaillade, Warrensburg, MO

MCPO Richard Lamoureux, Virginia Beach, VA, and Mrs. Carri Lamoureux, Virginia Beach, VA

MCPOCG Mike Leavitt, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, Arlington, VA, and Mrs. Debora Leavitt, Arlington, VA

Captain Yolanda Lee, Washington, DC, and Ms. Joyce Williams, Fort Washington, MD

The Honorable Jacob Lew, Chief of Staff, The White House, Washington, DC, and Ms. Shoshana Lew, Washington, DC (Daughter)

GySgt Deverson Lochard, Silver Spring, MD, and Dr. Cassondra Brown, Washington, DC

SFC Kyle Lyon, Clarksville, TN, and Mrs. Callie Lyon, Clarksville, TN

Cpl Aaron Mankin, San Antonio, TX, and Mrs. Diana Phelps, San Antonio, TX

MSG Peter Martinez, Alexandria, VA, and Mrs. Henrietta Martinez, Alexandria, VA

The Honorable Denis McDonough, Deputy Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff, NSC, Washington, DC, and Mrs. Karin McDonough, Takoma Park, MD

General Craig R McKinley, Chief, National Guard Bureau, Washington, DC, and Mrs. Cheryl McKinley, Washington, DC

Captain Stephen McNeil, Stafford, VA, and Ms. Maribel Lebaron, Stafford, VA

RDML Frank Morneau, Millersville, MD, and Mrs. Susan Morneau, Millersville, MD

Colonel Peter Newell, Woodbridge, VA, and Mrs. Vianne Newell, Woodbridge, VA

CW4 John T Nikolao, Fort Campbell, KY, and Mrs. Gina Nikolao, Fort Campbell, KY

General Raymond T Odierno, Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, DC, and Mrs. Linda Odierno, Fort Myer, VA

The Honorable Leon E Panetta, Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense, Washington, DC, and Lt. General John Kelly, Washington, DC

Admiral Robert Papp, Jr., Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Bolling AFB, DC, and Mrs. Linda Papp, Bolling AFB, DC

Major Jennifer Parker, Woodbridge, VA, and Major Brian McLean, Woodbridge, VA

Ms. Angela M. Peacock, Saint Charles, MO, and Mr. Jason D. Hansman, Tacoma, WA

MSG Jorge H. Perez, Fountain, CO, and Mrs. Stacey Perez, Fountain, CO

SSgt Andrew Piirainen, Roy, UT

SSgt Harry Prassenos II, King George, VA, and Mrs. Kelly Prassenos, King George, VA

Major Carter Price, Fort Knox, KY, and Mrs. Tricia Mae Price, Fort Knox, KY CW5 Kevin Purtee, Austin, TX, and

Ms. Michele Rene Tumino, Austin, TX SSG Anthony Ranfos, Frankfort, OH, and

Ms. Billy Jean Specht, Richmond Dale, OH

CSM Ronald T Riling, Huntsville, AL, and Mrs. Melinda Jean Riling, Huntsville, AL

PO3 Max Rohn, Longmont, CO

CMSgt James Roy, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Andrews AFB, MD, and

Mrs. Paula Roy, Joint Base Andrews, MD

Mr. Donald Samuels, National Commander, DAV, Gallatin, TN, and Mr. Arthur Henry Wilson, Venice, FL

Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, San Antonio, TX, and Mrs. MarieElena Garza Sanchez, San Antonio, TX

LCpl Steven Schulz, Friendswood, TX, and Debbie Schulz, Friendswood, TX

General Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Fort Myer, VA, and Mrs. Suzie Schwartz, Fort Myer, VA

The Honorable Eric K. Shinseki, Secretary of Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, and Mrs. Patty Shinseki, Washington, DC

Major Eldridge R. Singleton, Chula Vista, CA, and Mrs. Kimberley L. Singleton, Chula Vista, CA

SSgt. J. Smith, Crestview, FL, and Mrs. Kerry Ann Smith, Crestview, FL

Colonel Stephanie C. Smith, Vienna, VA, and Lieutenant Colonel Tony Bumgarner, Vienna, VA

SSgt Rebekka Spanglerloch, Stafford, VA, and GySgt Nicholas Spanglerloch, Stafford, VA

SFC Robbi A. Stanton, Fountain, CO, and Mrs. Brittany P. Stanton, Fountain, CO

SSG Benjamin N Straubel, Hermon, ME, and Mrs. Robyn Lynn Straubel, Hermon, ME

Sgt Clara Surita, Plantation, FL, and SGT Lauren Mahealani Manuel, Savannah, GA

Colonel David Sutherland, Alexandria, VA, and Mrs. Bonnie Sue Sutherland, Salem, OH

Major John Tate, Fort Leavenworth, KS

Cpl Kyle Taylor, Woodbridge, VA, and Ms. Nicole Marie Taylor, McDonough, GA

Major Shannon Thompson, Madison, AL, and Mrs. Jamie Thompson, Madison, AL

PO2 TerryLee Thompson, Waldorf, MD, and Mr. William S. Thompson, Waldorf, MD

MSG William C Tomlin, Glen Burnie, MD, and Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Tomlin, Glen Burnie, MD

Major Matthew Tracy, Newport, RI, and Mrs. Mary Tracy, Newport, RI

SSG Shawon Tucker, San Antonio, TX, and Mr. Jermaine Jones, New York, NY

CPO Bradley VanHorn, Bowie, MD, and Mrs. Valerie VanHorn, Bowie, MD

CW4 Nelson Visaya, Hawaii, and Mrs. Brenda Visaya, Hawaii

SSG Jesse Wandling, Hopkinsville, KY, and Mrs. Silke Wandling, Hopkinsville, KY

Lieutenant Colonel Steve Warren, Alexandria, VA

MCPON Rickey West, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Arlington, VA, and Mrs. Bobbi West, Arlington, VA

Sgt Leslieanne Wilkinson, Dumfries, VA, and Mr. Robert Hanus, Detroit, MI

Mr. Douglas Wilson, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, Rehoboth Beach, DE, and Ms. Tamara Haddad, President, Haddad Media, Washington, DC

Major Brian Wobensmith, Stafford, VA, and Mrs. Kim Alyssa Wobensmith, Stafford, VA

Commander Fang Wong, National Commander, American Legion, Washington, DC, and Mrs. Barbara Lam Wong, East Brunswick, NJ

Ms. Christine Wormuth, NSS, Washington, DC, and Ms. Deanna Wormuth, Falls Church, VA

SGT Heather N. Wunderlich, Lincoln, NE, and Mr. Jeremie Ellis Wunderlich, Lincoln, NE
##

The Guest List of Service Men and Women...
The Pentagon paid the travel expenses for service members flying in to Washington from distant posts, as well as for a one-night hotel stay. The names, ranks, and branch of service for the 78 service members invited are listed below, by home state. Texas has four service members; Tennessee, Maine, Michigan, and Massachusetts have three; Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Georgia, Colorado, New York, Minnesota, and New Hampshire each have two.

Alabama: Staff Sgt. Shawon Tucker; Army

Alaska: Maj. Shannon Thompson; Army

American Samoa: Chief Warrant Officer 4 John Nikolao; Army

Arizona: Capt. Brian D. Hartman; Army

Arkansas:
Cpl. Aaron Mankin; Marine Corps
Staff Sgt. Joseph May; Marine Corps

California: Maj. Eldridge R. Singleton; Army

Colorado:
Sgt. John-Mark Gladstone; Marine Corps
Petty Officer 3rd Class Max R. Rohn; Navy

Connecticut: Master Sgt. William Tomlin; Army

Delaware: Sgt. 1st Class Sebastian K. Ellis; Army

District of Columbia: Capt. Yolanda Lee; ARNG

Florida: Master Chief Petty Officer Richard D. Lamoureux; Navy

Georgia:
Staff Sgt. J.H. Smith; Air Force
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick West; Navy

Guam: Spc. Janice Hernandez Flores; ARNG

Hawaii:
Chief Master Sgt. Denise Jelinski-Hall; ANG
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Nelson A. Visaya; Army

Idaho: Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Mike Leavitt; Coast Guard

Illinois: Gunnery Sgt Tawanda M. Hanible; Marine Corps

Indiana: Master Sgt. Jorge H. Perez; Army

Iowa:
Lt. Col. Beth Behn; Army
Staff Sgt. Jesse Lee Wandling; Army

Kansas:
Chief Petty Officer Joseph Castro; Coast Guard
1st Lt. Paul S. Gonzalez; Army

Kentucky: Senior Chief Petty Officer Christopher J. Henderson; Navy

Louisiana: Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia; Marine Corps

Maine:
Master Sgt. Jeremy G. Coombs; Air Force
Master Sgt. Shane Lacaillade; Air Force
Col. Todd Scott Desgrosseilliers; Marine Corps

Maryland: Maj. Brian E. Wobensmith; Marine Corps

Massachusetts:
Staff Sgt. Andrew Piirainen; Air Force
Gunnery Sgt. Deverson Lochard; Marine Corps
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond Chandler; Army

Michigan:
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy; Air Force
Master Sgt. Jessica R. Coombs; Air Force
Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald J. Riling; Army

Minnesota:
Staff Sgt. Benjamin N. Straubel; ARNG
Maj. John Michael Tate; Army

Mississippi: Staff Sgt. Harry Prassenos; Marine Corps

Missouri: Maj. Jennifer S. Parker; Marine Corps

Montana: Sgt. 1st Class; Kyle B. Lyon; Army

Nebraska: Sgt. Heather N. Wunderlich; ARNG

Nevada: Maj. Erik J. Jacobson; Air Force

New Hampshire:
Staff Sgt. Anthony J. Ranfos; Army
Capt. Stephen M. McNeil; Marine Corps

New Jersey: Rear Adm. Frank Morneau; Navy

New Mexico: Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry; Army

New York:
Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Micheal Barrett; Marine Corps
Col. Stephanie C. Smith; Marine Corps

North Carolina: Petty Officer 1st Class Jay Ho Choi; Navy

North Dakota: Sgt. Richard Fiske; Marine Corps

N. Marianas Islands: Staff Sgt. Leslieanne Wilkinson; Marine Corps

Ohio: Chief Warrant Officer 5 David Cooper; Army

Oklahoma: Maj. Gen. Vaughn A. Ary; Marine Corps

Oregon: Sgt. Sarah Adams; Army

Pennsylvania: Petty Officer 2nd Class; Lawrence Benson; Coast Guard

Puerto Rico: Staff Sgt. Miguel Cruz; Army

Rhode Island: Sgt. Joshua R. Labbe; Army; PA

South Carolina: Sgt. Nytayia D. Jamison; Marine Corps

South Dakota: 1st Sgt. Christina Hunts Horse-May; Marine Corps

Tennessee:
Petty Officer 1st Class Anthony H. Bozarth; Navy
Master Sgt. Brian M. Blonder; Marine Corps
Senior Master Sgt. Donnie Bolton; Air Force

Texas:
Staff Sgt. Eric Alva; Marine Corps
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kevin Purtee; ARNG
Lance Cpl. Steven Schulz; Marine Corps
Petty Officer 2nd Class TerryLee Thompson; Navy

Utah:
Master Sgt. Kevin T. Bullivant; ANG
Sgt. 1st Class Robbi A. Stanton; Army

Vermont: Col. Peter Newell; Army

Virgin Islands: Sgt. 1st Class James Gaston Sr.; ARNG

Virginia:
Cpl. Kyle L. Taylor; Marine Corps
Chief Petty Officer William Castro; Coast Guard

Washington: Chief Petty Officer Bradley A. VanHorn; Navy

West Virginia: Maj. Carter L. Price; Army

Wisconsin: Tech. Sgt. Christian Bennett; ANG

Wyoming: Staff Sgt. Rebekka Spanglerloch; Marine Corps

*Updated

*Photo at top by Pete Souza/White House; the President and Mrs. Obama pose for a portrait in the State Dining Room, ahead of the first Governors Dinner in February 2009.

President Obama Will Host Formal White House Dinner To Mark The End Of The Iraq War

A tribute to heroes: "A Nation's Gratitude"
UPDATE: CLICK HERE for the guest list and more details
Two and a half months after the last US troops withdrew from Iraq, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will host a formal dinner at the White House to pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of the veterans and their families, the White House announced today. The Feb. 29 event in the East Room has been designed to replicate a State Dinner, with the theme "A Nation's Gratitude: Honoring Those Who Served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn," according to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Doug Wilson. The President and Mrs. Obama will welcome about 200 specially selected guests, and the event will include performances by high-profile entertainers. (Above: The President and Mrs. Obama greeted troops during a December 14 visit to Fort Bragg, NC to mark the end of the Iraq war)

"The template is a State Dinner, the highest honor that a President can give a visiting Head of State, because everyone involved felt this was appropriate to give thanks and to honor America's men and women in uniform," Wilson said.

Senior military leaders will be invited, but most of the invitations "will go to enlisted NCOs and the common fighting man and woman," said Wilson, who represent the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy and the National Guard, and come from all 50 states and the territories. They will include military family members and/or caregivers, members of Gold Star families, and wounded warriors.

"Mrs. Obama wanted to make sure that the room that night represented the America that served in Iraq," Wilson said.

About 1.5 million Americans served in Iraq during the war that lasted from March of 2003 to December of 2011; close to 4,500 were killed, and more than 32,000 wounded. A committee made up of senior enlisted representatives from each branch of service hand-picked the President and Mrs. Obama's guests.

The White House will send out formal invitations to the dinner in the next 7-10 days, Wilson said. Attire will be black tie and dress uniforms, and whether or not there will be a formal arrival ceremony and a red-carpet style entrance has yet to be determined. The names of the entertainers have not yet been announced.

The President and Mrs. Obama annually host a closed-press dinner for top military brass, the Combatant Commanders Dinner, but a dinner to mark the end of a war seems to be a White House first, according to Wilson, who said he was not aware of a similar formal event hosted by a President. America's returning heroes from Iraq have not yet received a ticker-tape style parade in New York, because some troops who served are now re-deployed in Afghanistan, Wilson said. Veterans' groups have been lobbying for such a parade. The city of St. Louis held its own ticker-tape parade in tribute to local Iraq heroes, Wilson said.

"This dinner--an expression of the nation's gratitude for the achievements and enormous sacrifices of the brave Americans who served in the Iraq War and of the families who supported them--will include men and women in uniform from all ranks, services, states and backgrounds, representative of the many thousands of Americans who served in Iraq," read the formal White House announcement.

The White House has been "working with military and civilian leaders from the Department of Defense on this tribute," according to the announcement. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Jill Biden's Joining Forces Campaign to honor and support military families marks its one-year anniversary in April.

When queried about the dinner during today's press briefing, Press Secretary Jay Carney said comparing the dinner to a State Dinner is incorrect.

"I think state dinner probably is not quite accurate," Carney said, and added that he did not know many details. "I don't have any dress or menu or entertainment," he said.

The West Wing released the formal announcement about the dinner, and the East Wing, which traditionally handles all aspects of social occasions, referred queries about the event to the West Wing and to the Department of Defense.

The President and Mrs. Obama will host the first State Dinner of 2012 in mid-March. British Prime Minister David Cameron will be honored.

*"There was a sea of maroon berets as the President and First Lady greeted troops following remarks on the end of America’s war in Iraq, at Fort Bragg, N.C.," White House photographer Pete Souza wrote with the photo at the top of this post.