Photo By Col. Steven Fairbourn | Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the U.S. Armed Forces,...... read more read more
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Story by Lt. Col. Steven Fairbourn and Capt. Kurt Rauschenberg
BERLIN, Germany – The Knight Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany was presented to Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) of the United States military, during a ceremony at the Ministry of Defense Sept. 10.
Germany’s Chief of Defense, Gen. Volker Wieker, presented the prestigious award for Dempsey’s efforts to foster peaceful interaction and mutual tolerance between the U.S. and Germany. Wieker presented the award as the German equivalent to Dempsey as the highest-ranking official in the German military.
“Today is for all of us, a pleasure and privilege, to welcome the highest military representative of our closest ally”, said Wieker. “Germany is grateful for your outstanding contributions to the American-German friendship and your dedication to our bilateral and transatlantic partnership.”
“You are a wonderful country,” said Dempsey, the 18th CJCS, who was honored to receive the coveted award in the historic city of Berlin. “I suspect that our history will draw us even closer together and we’ll probably suffer casualties together in the future in the name of the way we choose to lead our lives and freedom, and it’s on that basis that I accept this wonderful award.”
Gen. Dempsey reflected on his past in Germany and the pronounced impact on his more than 40 years of service.
“This is my last trip as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and I found it fitting and appropriate that I would end my career where I began it,” Dempsey said. “It’s not only a reflection of our partnership looking backwards, but a recommitment of our partnership going forward.”
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany was created in 1951 and is authorized by the president for significant national contributions.
| Date Taken: | 09.10.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 09.14.2015 10:42 |
| Story ID: | 175966 |
| Location: | BE, DE |
| Web Views: | 121 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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