I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING WITH THE 14TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT AS A 1ST LIEUTENANT FROM 1956 TO 1959. WHEN WE PERFORMED OUR DUTIES ALONG THIS FORMER BOUNDARY BETWEEN FREEDOM AND OPPRESSION, OBSERVATION POST ALPHA CONSISTED OF AN EARTHEN BUNKER COVERED WITH LOGS AND SANDBAGS. WINTERTIME DUTY WAS OFTEN WET, COLD,  MISERABLE, AND SOMETIMES FRIGHTENING WHEN UNITS OF THE WARSAW PACT FORCES WERE OBSERVED ACROSS THE BORDER. WE DIDN'T HAVE THE BENEFIT OF BARRACKS AND A SHELTERED TOWER, LIKE YOU SEE PRESERVED HERE TODAY, TO SERVE AS A BASE OF OPERATIONS. THE LACK OF SUCH BENEFIT, HOWEVER, WAS OF SECONDARY IMPORTANCE. THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER THINGS THAT WERE FIRST AND FOREMOST IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THOSE TROOPERS, INCLUDING THOSE FEW WHO ARE WITH US TODAY. THESE  INCLUDED THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE WERE SERVING A NOBLE AND WORTHY CAUSE;  THE FACT THAT WE ENJOYED THE ABSOLUTE TOTAL SUPPORT OF OUR HOST NATION - THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY;  THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE BUNDESGRENZSCHUTZ WERE ON PATROL ALONG BESIDE US, BOTH DAY AND NIGHT;  AND FINALLY, THE DEMONSTRATED TRUTH THAT OUR NATIONS TOGETHER WERE DEDICATED TO PRESERVING PEACE AND FREEDOM IN THE COUNTRIES OF THE FREE WORLD.

    IN CLOSING, ON BEHALF OF ALL OUR 14TH CAVALRY TROOPERS AND OUR FAMILIES,  I CONVEY MY MOST SINCERE THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE PLANNED AND WORKED TO MAKE THIS MEMORIAL PLAQUE DEDICATION HONORING OUR RESPECTIVE REGIMENTS A  REALITY.  THE PLAQUE WE ARE ABOUT TO UNVEIL WILL SERVE AS A PERPETUAL REMINDER TO ALL WHO VISIT THIS HISTORIC SITE - THAT THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM COMES WITH A PRICE.  OUR REGIMENTS, WITH THE SOLID SUPPORT OF OUR DEAR GERMAN HOSTS, HELPED PAY THAT PRICE.  THANK YOU.