Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 8

FEW wrasau. 2004 NATION taw oiito vdM SJCq I 1 Bush pays tribute to soldiers ARLINGTON, Va (AP) -President Bush paused on Veterans Day to honor the "hidden heroes" in America's military who have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan during his presidency and in wars past lie also paid tribute to soldiers he said are waging a winning battle against insurgents west of Baghdad. "Some of tomorrow's veterans are in combat in Iraq at this hour," Bush said Thursday at Arlington National Cemetery, where he laid a wreath at the Tbmb of the Unknowns. "They have a clear mission: to defeat the terrorists and aid the rise of a free government that can defend itself. They are making us proud, Bush added "They are winning." As Bush spoke, U.S.

soldiers and Marines opened a second phase in an offensive against insurgents in the southern half of Fallujah that has sent a stream of American wounded to the military 's main hospital in Europe. Planes carrying around 90 injured troops were expected Thursday at Indstutil Regional Medical Center in Germany They join 125 wounded soldiers flown there already this week. The military, which is trying to squeeze Sunni Muslim fighters into a smaller cordon of the city, estimated that 600 insurgents have been killed in the assault thus far, but acknowledged success in the city won't I Auoclated Press U.S. Marina Corps Cpt. Mervein St George, right, ortglnsNy of Hard, hoids up his hand aa ha takes the oath of allegiance to the U.S.

at a naturalization ceremony h4d Thursday aboard the decommaaloned aircraft carrier USS Midway In San Diego. Immigrant sailors, Marines become new citizens on Veterans Day Associated Press WW II veteran Kerrh Waning. 81, of Hollla, Maine, attends a Veteran Day parade Thursday In Portland, Mains. Waning la wearing the same Jacket he wore 60 years ago as an Army scout In Franca and Germany during World War II. He was decorated with several medals Including the bronze star tor heroism.

Waning often spent nights crawling across enemy lines to observe movement, 'ft was the worst tob. I'm lucky I'm he said of his war experience. tery, where more than 260,000 military dead are buried, through a phalanx of bayonet-wielding honor guard members and to the sounds of cannon blasts. "Twenty-five million veterans walk among us and, on this day, our nation thanks them all," he said in a somber address. "These are the hidden heroes of a peaceful nation." break Iraq's insurgency.

There are about 142,000 troops in Iraq, up several thousand from a few weeks ago. As the Iraq war nears the two-year mark, the U.S. military death toll there stands at more than 1,140. Joining Bush at the cerem ny were his wife, Laura, and several members of his Cabinet. His motorcade entered the grounds of the vast ceme after wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Veterans were honored Thursday at ceremonies big and small: an event recognizing a teenage Purple Heart recipient in South Carolina, a parade on the streets of Manhattan, a vreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Ceremony attended by President Bush. The war in Iraq was a dominant theme at the ceremonies. There are about 142,000 U.S. troops in Iraq; the American death toll stands at more than 1,140. "Let no one tell you we aren't doing good things there," Army Col.

Jill Morgenthalher, who recently returned from Iraq and earned a Bronze Star, said at a wreath-laying ceremony at Chicago's Soldier Field. "We are standing up for what is right. This is our next greatest generation." At the ceremony aboard the USS Midway, U.S. District Judge William Hayes administered the oath of citizenship, noting that many of the troops were from countries that deny individual liberties and had left behind families who "cannot know what joy you are experiencing today." "You as representatives of the armed forces know above all, like most citizens, that freedom Is not free," Hayes said. "Thank you for your sacrifice" SAN DIEGO (AP) Marine Cpl.

David Antonio Garcia stood on the deck of an aircraft carrier Thursday and was sworn in as an American citizen after already serving under the U.S. flag In Iraq. The native of Mexico was among 80 sailors and Marines from 25 countries from Canada to Syria who became citizens in a Veterans Day ceremony aboard the USS Midway, a reward for putting their lives on the line for their adopted country. The ceremony, watched by more than 100 cheering relatives, came as the nation observed Veterans Day with about 160,000 troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan some of them locked in fierce house-to-house fighting in Fallujah. "I wouldn't want to compare myself to World War veterans or Vietnam veterans," said Garcia, 21, who was with combat engineers who cleared the path for tanks to roll into Iraq.

But I feel some of what they must feel today. I know what it's like to leave loved ones and not to know if you will come The citizenship ceremony was one of dozens of events held nationwide to celebrate Veterans Day, a holiday that has taken on added meaning In the last three years v-w. Ill', If. I iff Uintnla Saladi Who said there's no such thing as a FREE meal? II, ldLB AM 1 JM '111 if I Kracktn CHINA 88 China Associated Press Pearl Harbor survivor Houston James of Dallaa Is overcome with emotion as ha embraces former Marine Staff Sgt. Mark Graunka during the Dallas veterans Day Commemoration In Dallas on Thursday.

Sgt. Graunka, who waa a member of a Marina ordnance-disposal team, lost a hand, lag and eye while defusing a bomb In Iraq In Jury of last year. Caimer Suc 'i FatoU'l BIT ft pttanfc IUIm Rtttaurant Hunan i RUWURAST EAfiJJACCTl DJLUT LIST IKTIQUL MULL 5 OPEN HOUSE HOT. 2041. XatiqTM ftmltsT, gUsswar, qrdlts, priznltlrtf, ptctnrtt, tools tad doll.

LxhlU. tOfiKTMrdtt 10JLM-5PM. Ullli CBJLM F2JHX DLXTHLCT TUJLLU.X TROT Hot; 21. ComsnxaUy I.ExitlU&mdUnoaTtmpU. 12:39 PM.

21 I-M2-4413. OMkhest lani Market gfcp Buy One Meal Get One rasDacd'i KaUan Dmtag la Mill FREE wtffi th DININGcard a KALEIDOSCOPE OF CBUTS Nor. 21. flu. Hut rapt fotia'i grA Hum tkn Regional local trtisti, artisans, and crtfiui.

Exit 159. 101M-4PM 1 I Mm TOOTDUJLND IN LIGHTS only Vow. 27 -Doc 25. 1 holiday fantasy OaW lemiciigin app foz kids of all ages. If displays XT' A Ml I at taglt Crack tatort tafto (iW ttma Mat mwm lattaaraat trtryyeaxi Exit 1S2, Lefl oa Ttanpla, ligfet ra Engbriag.

Sub-Ilaxa: 5-8 PUirrMal 5-10 FM. Addrsat. 0 Stats. 2p OLD-TldlOirED CIICISTLZXS Hot. 28.

tHJ iiis, visit wi2i Nwr DMng Can aiaietf to ffw Santa! Hot caooolata. Dowstowx Ummwtm a Me, aoeai mm arser Trnghan. TIL Krtda CtH fox mora your mt etest art rEEEYIsitoxi Guide! 000-772-0750 Journal Gazette imts3-Ccurttr i IPS fcea.1 Hi is, as Win liil nasi 1 eHlDraa.Lbtnt li a a. sia oi i HILLINOIS aou Arm auaiiricxsT lCbi atnci-'.