Keeper Of The Flame Passed To Conway
(September 19, 2010) |
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MCN 9/15/2010 -- Surrounded by a “powerful guest list,” Gen.
James Conway, the commandant of the Marine Corps, accepted
the Keeper of the Flame award at Union Station Sept. 15.
The Keeper of the Flame has been awarded annually for 21
years, and recognizes people who devote their lives to
America's defense and have a commitment to national
security. |
Conway received the award for his leadership
approach and his ability as a combat commander, said
Frank Gaffney, the president and chief executive of
the Center for Security Policy, the organization
presenting the award.
“I've admired Gen. Conway for a long time,” he said.
“As he approaches the end of his tenure as
commandant, this was an opportunity for us to
recognize him and say thank you.”
Past award recipients include Ronald Reagan, Dick
Cheney and retired Gen. Peter Pace.
“Jim is a man of great courage,” said Pace, who
introduced Conway. “I have come to admire his
physical courage in combat, but I've also |
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Retired Gen. James Jones, Gen. James Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, retired Gen. Peter Pace, and Frank Gaffney, the president and CEO of the Center for Security Policy, pose after Conway accepted the 2010 Keeper of the Flame award at Union Station in Washington Sept. 14, 2010. The Center presented the award to Conway for his service as the senior leader of the Marine Corps and his contributions to the nation's security. |
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come to admire his intellectual courage – the
courage to say ‘I see it differently, and here is
why.'” |
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Conway accepted the award on behalf of his Marines, many who
are “anxious” to go to Afghanistan.
“Our great nation has not been attacked in the same manner
(as 9/11) in the last nine years,” he said. “While there are
a number of reasons for that, if you talk to the troops in
Iraq or Afghanistan, they will tell you that they are each a
part of why this country hasn't been attacked. They believe
that some of the same (people) who would attempt to attack
our country are instead coming to fight them in Iraq and
increasingly in Afghanistan, and they are okay with that.
That is precisely what they want to see.”
Gaffney, who nominated Conway for the award, said this
choice represented the importance of the Marine Corps to
America's security.
“The Marine Corps is the most admired institution in the
country,” Gaffney added. “We're going to need it in the
future, as much as we did in the past.”
Founded in 1988, the Center for Security Policy follows the
philosophy of “peace through strength” to preserve the
country's role in maintaining global stability. For more
information on the Keeper of the Flame award, visit
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/. |
Article and photo by LCpl. Benjamin Harris
Headquarters Marine Corps
Copyright 2010 | |
Reprinted from
Marine Corps News
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