This week marked a historic moment in the life of our country and our military.`n本周是我国和我国军队历史上的一个重要时刻。
For nearly nine years, our nation has been at war in Iraq. More than 1.5 million Americans have served there with honor, skill, and bravery. Tens of thousands have been wounded. Military families have sacrificed greatly -- none more so than the families of those nearly 4,500 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice. All of them – our troops, veterans, and their families -- will always have the thanks of a grateful nation.`n近九年来，我们的国家一直在伊拉克作战。超过150万名美国人曾在那里光荣、熟练而勇敢地服役。数万人负伤。军人家庭作出了巨大的牺牲，其中牺牲最为惨重的，是那些近4500名为国捐躯的美国军人的家属。所有这些人，包括我们的现役军人、退伍军人及其家属，都将永远得到一个心怀感激的国家的感谢。
On Thursday, the colors our Armed Forces fought under in Iraq were formally cased in a ceremony in Baghdad before beginning their journey back home. Our troops are now preparing to make their final march across the border and out of the country. Iraq’s future will be in the hands of its own people. Our war there will be over. All of our troops will be out of Iraq. And this holiday season, all of us can finally say: Welcome home.`n周四，我们的武装部队在伊拉克作战时所使用的军旗，在巴格达的一场仪式上正式收起，随后踏上回家的旅程。我们的部队正准备最后一次跨越边境，离开这个国家。伊拉克的未来将掌握在伊拉克人民自己手中。我们的战争即将结束。我们的所有部队都将撤出伊拉克。在这个节日季，我们终于可以对所有人说：欢迎回家。
This is an extraordinary achievement -- one made possible by the hard work and sacrifice of the men and women who had the courage to serve. And there’s a lesson to learn from that -- a lesson about our character as a nation.`n这是一项非凡的成就，是那些有勇气服役的男女军人辛勤工作和牺牲换来的。我们也应从中汲取一个教训，一个关于我们这个国家品格的教训。
See, there’s a reason our military is the most respected institution in America. They don’t see themselves or each other as Democrats first or Republicans first. They see themselves as Americans first.`n我们的军队之所以成为美国最受尊敬的机构，是有原因的。他们不会先把自己或彼此看作民主党人，也不会先看作共和党人。他们首先把自己看作美国人。
For all our differences and disagreements, they remind us that we are all a part of something bigger; that we are one nation and one people. And for all our challenges, they remind us that there is nothing we can’t do when we stick together.`n尽管我们存在种种差异和分歧，他们提醒我们，我们都是更宏大事业的一部分；我们是一个国家、一个人民。面对种种挑战，他们也提醒我们，只要团结一致，就没有什么是我们做不到的。
They’re the finest our nation has to offer. Many will remain in the military and go on to the next mission. Others will take off the uniform and become veterans. But their commitment to service doesn’t end when they take off the uniform -- in fact, I’m confident the story of their service to America is just beginning.`n他们是我国能够贡献的最优秀儿女。许多人会继续留在军队，奔赴下一个任务。另一些人会脱下军装，成为退伍军人。但他们对服务的承诺不会在脱下军装时结束。事实上，我相信，他们服务美国的故事才刚刚开始。
After years of rebuilding Iraq, it is time to enlist our veterans and all our people in the work of rebuilding America. Folks like my grandfather came back from World War II to form the backbone of the largest middle class in history. And today’s generation of veterans -- the 9/11 Generation of veterans -- is armed with the skills, discipline, and leadership to attack the defining challenge of our time: rebuilding an economy where hard work pays off, where responsibility is rewarded, where anyone can make it if they try.`n在多年重建伊拉克之后，现在是时候让我们的退伍军人和全体人民投身于重建美国的事业了。像我的祖父那样的人从第二次世界大战归来，成为历史上最大规模中产阶级的骨干。如今这一代退伍军人，也就是“9·11一代”退伍军人，拥有技能、纪律和领导力，能够迎接我们这个时代最关键的挑战：重建一个让辛勤工作得到回报、让负责担当受到奖励、让任何人只要努力就能取得成功的经济。
Now it is up to us to serve these brave men and women as well as they serve us. Every day, they meet their responsibilities to their families and their country. Now it’s time to meet ours -- especially those of us who you sent to serve in Washington. This cannot be a country where division and discord stand in the way of our progress. This is a moment where we must come together to ensure that every American has the chance to work for a decent living, own their own home, send their kids to college, and secure a decent retirement.`n现在轮到我们服务这些勇敢的男男女女，就像他们服务我们一样。每天，他们都在履行对家庭和国家的责任。现在是我们履行责任的时候了，尤其是你们派往华盛顿为民服务的那些人。这个国家不能让分裂和不和阻碍我们的进步。此刻，我们必须团结起来，确保每一位美国人都有机会获得体面的生活、拥有自己的住房、送孩子上大学，并享有体面的退休生活。
This is a moment for us to build a country that lives up to the ideals that so many of our bravest Americans have fought and even died for. That is our highest obligation as citizens. That is the welcome home that our troops deserve.`n此刻，我们要建设一个不负理想的国家，而无数最勇敢的美国人正是为了这些理想而战斗，甚至献出了生命。这是我们作为公民所肩负的最高义务。这就是我们的军人应得的欢迎回家。
Thank you.`n谢谢大家。
