Bill Clinton: “Thank you, General Maddox, Chancellor and Mrs. Kohl, Mayor and Mrs. Diepgen, General Joulwan, General Yates, Ambassador…”

“Thank you, General Maddox, Chancellor and Mrs. Kohl, Mayor and Mrs. Diepgen, General Joulwan, General Yates, Ambassador Holbrooke, members of the Berlin Brigade. Let me first say a word of appreciation to those who have spoken before: to General Yates for his moving statement of commitment and a shared experience you have had here in protecting freedom and in your work since the end of the cold war in Iraq and Turkey and Macedonia and elsewhere; General Maddox for his leadership and continuing commitment to our presence in Europe; and especially to my friend Chancellor Kohl, for it is what has happened in the last few years since the Wall fell which has proved that your enduring sacrifice was worth it. We are marking the end of a half a century of sacrifice on freedom's frontier. But we are celebrating a new beginning. Chancellor Kohl, I thank you for being America's great friend and for proving in the inordinate sacrifices made by the German people and the German Government since the Wall came down that unification can be a reality, that Germany can be whole and one and a full partnership in leading the world to a better tomorrow. America is in your debt, sir. In 1945, at the dawn of the cold war, President Truman came here to Berlin.…”