Public Remarks by Ambassador Beyrle
Remarks by Ambassador John Beyrle Honoring Veterans
November 12, 2008
Spaso House
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, distinguished veterans, thank you for joining with us here this evening to commemorate the service of all veterans to their countries.
In the United States and much of Europe, we began commemorating Veterans Day on November 11, the day that marked the end of the First World War on the Western Front. That is why we wear the red poppy, symbolizing the poppies of Flanders Field, the most terrible battlefield of that long-ago war.
Today in America, Veterans Day honors the veterans of all the wars in which America has fought. And today, here in Moscow, we also honor the Russian veterans who fought with such courage and devotion in the common battle that America and Russia waged against Hitler and fascism.
I am very grateful to two organizations, the Veterans of Foreign Wars in the United States and Boevoe Bratsvo in Russia, which made sure that the service and sacrifices of our veterans are not forgotten. I greatly appreciate their dedication and hard work for this important cause.
During the war, a number of Russian soldiers and officers received medals from the United States for their service in our common battle against Nazi Germany. One Russian soldier who was so honored was a Major Rappaport, who received the U.S. Legion of Merit. Major Rappaport was the commander of a detachment of the Soviet 7th Airborne Division. On 8 May 1945 his detachment broke through a line of German forces, and Major Rappaport became the first Soviet officer to meet up with the U.S. 65th Infantry Division in Austria.
Today I am honored to provide Major Rappaport’s son, Mr. Roald Iosifovich Rappaport, and his grandson, Mr. Dimitri Roaldovich Baronviski, with copies of the documentation of Legion of Merit award, which we located in the U.S. National Archives. On this day of remembrance, our reflection on Major Rappoport’s award is both a tribute to their father’s and grandfather’s distinguished service and a reminder of our two great countries’ historic accomplishment.
As most of you know, my father served in the U.S. Army at the Normandy invasion and, after escaping from a German prisoner of war camp, served with a Russian tank unit advancing toward Berlin. This day has a special significance for me, as did the special honor awarded to my father by President Yeltsin and President Clinton.
I am very honored that one of the veterans here today is former Major General Vasiliiy Gerogievich Zibarev, who served with courage and honor as a tank battalion commander on the Byelorussian Front during the siege of Berlin at the same time as my father. General Zibarev and my father probably never met, but they fought for the same cause, and they shared in the same victory. And I personally want to thank him for the service that he gave in making that victory possible.
The Second World War was the greatest event of the last century, and it was the greatest partnership between America and Russia. We owe that victory to our veterans.
I hope with all my heart that our two countries will always remember and honor our veterans of all of wars, for veterans represent the highest values of our nations: duty, honor, courage, and sacrifice.
And I hope that our two nations, Russia and America, will be what we were during the Second World War, when my father and General Zibarev fought together for the same cause. I hope that we will always be partners, allies, and friends.
Thank you.
