2002 Keeper of the Flame Award: Richard Myers

Last night, the Center for Security Policy paid tribute to the men and women in uniform by presenting to them and their commanding officer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard B. Myers USAF, the 2002 “Keeper of the Flame” Award. This recognition was made all the more deserved and timely in light of the efforts the officers and enlisted personnel of our armed forces are currently making as they fight the Nation’s battles and prepare to undertake one of the most momentous military campaigns in this country’s history.

Before General Myers addressed the 400-plus attendees at this elegant black-tie dinner held at the Washington Four  Seasons Hotel, he was introduced by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Douglas Feith. Secretary Feith shared a congratulatory message from President George W. Bush in which Mr. Bush declared:

It is right that [the Center] honor the U.S. armed forces and General Richard Myers. America values freedom, and we will use our military, which is the best in the world, to preserve that freedom. Our soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen are led by outstanding commanders, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Myers. He has been a tremendous leader and a great asset in our fight against terrorism. His counsel, wisdom, and resolve have been invaluable to me. Our Nation is stronger and safer thanks to his efforts.

Remarking that “this dinner represents, as it were, the intersection of two of America’s great national security institutions, the Center for Security Policy and the Department of Defense,” Secretary Feith described the qualities that have earned Gen. Myers the respect of both those institutions and, indeed, of the larger national security community they serve:

His virtues are rare, but classically American: Intelligence without arrogance; patriotism without cant; toughness without brutality; resolution without rigidity; and dignity without vanity. [Chairman Myers] is, in sum, a military leader of the finest quality.”

For his part, Gen. Myers applauded the courage and commitment of those under his command who are making sacrifices every day in the service of their country, describing with anecdotes and personal reminiscences the hardships many of them are enduring in the process. He movingly praised their readiness to undertake whatever missions are assigned to them. Gen. Myers also expressed appreciation to the families of uniformed personnel and to the latters’ civilian counterparts for the contributions each are making to the combat power and esprit de corps of the U.S. military.

Secretary Feith was joined by the 1994 “Keeper of the Flame” Award recipient and the Honorary Co-Chairman (with former Director of Central Intelligence James Woolsey) of the Center’s National Security Advisory Council — U.S. Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona — in presenting Gen. Myers with his Baccarat crystal Flame. To underscore the important role being played by enlisted personnel in Operation Enduring Freedom, and every other military mission underway today, Messrs. Kyl and Feith also presented five senior non-commissioned officers representing each of the uniformed services with their own symbolic Keeper of the Flame Awards. The latter were: Sergeant Major Jeffrey L. Greer USA, the Command Sergeant Major of the Military District of Washington; Chief Master Sergeant Jonathan E. Hake USAF, the Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 11th Wing; Master Chief Petty Officer Charles BowenSergeant Major Eduardo Gadsden USMC, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps’ Headquarters Battalion; and Master Chief Susan Sanson USN, Command Master Chief of the Naval District of Washington. USCG, the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard;

The event concluded with remarks by Sen. Kyl. The Senator from Arizona joined in warmly praising Gen. Myers and the men and women he leads, then spoke of the heavy responsibility associated with any decision to dispatch such extraordinary Americans to defend our freedoms in places like Iraq. Sen. Kyl also generously commended the Center for its work, stating that “as a policymaker, I can tell you that I rely tremendously on the material…that comes from Frank [Gaffney] and others at the Center for Security Policy.”

Among the company in attendance for the thirteenth annual Keeper of the Flame Award were many of the Nation’s senior military personnel, as well as a large contingent of civilian leaders of the national security community. Among the former, in addition to Gen. Myers, were: the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace, USMC; the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps and newly confirmed Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, Gen. James L. Jones USMC; the Assistant Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, Gen. William Nyland USMC; the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. William Fallon and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Robert Foglesong.

Among the many currently serving and high-ranking Pentagon officials present were, in addition to Secretary Feith: Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition) Pete Aldridge; Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Dov Zakheim; the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy J. D. Crouch; the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Peter Rodman; the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Support Ken deGraffenreid; the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs William Luti; the Inspector General for the Department of Defense Joseph Schmitz; and the Chairman of the Defense Policy Board Richard Perle. Also in attendance was the former Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Energy and Director of Central Intelligence and 2001 Keeper of the Flame Award recipient, Dr. James Schlesinger.

Several other distinguished guests included: Assistant Secretary of State for Verification and Compliance Paula A. DeSutter; the Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors Kenneth Tomlinson; and the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Proliferation Strategy, Counterproliferation and Homeland Defense, NSC Amb. Robert G. Joseph.

Click here to view a copy of the transcript.