UPDATED: Obama Recognizes US Troops Serving In Iraq, Afghanistan

President Obama will deliver remarks today at the American Legion Annual Conference in Minneapolis. The White House says the President will pay special tribute to the “9/11 Generation” of troops and their families who have served in a decade of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As Pentagon budgets are being considered for large reductions, Obama will be speaking to an audience of 10,000 that supports a strong national defense. He will talk about the need to take care of our troops and veterans as they return home, and will outline the Administration’s efforts and plans to meet obligations to aid all veterans.

Obama has proposed tax credits and other incentives to employers who hire unemployed veterans. He is also proposing more education and training, both for veterans and veteran business owners. The unemployment rate among those who joined the military after the September 11 attacks was 13.3 percent as of June. In Minnesota, it’s over 22 percent. Eric Shinseki, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, has pledged to end the growing problem of veteran homelessness by 2015. He will speak to the delegates later this week.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is scheduled to speak Wednesday and Minnesota Congresswoman and Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann is scheduled to speak Thursday.

It was reported today that August has become the deadliest month for US troops in the nearly 10-year-old war in Afghanistan. A record 66 US troops have died so far this month, according to a tally kept by the Associated Press.

Update on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 1:54PM by Staff

Obama praised U.S. forces serving abroad, telling an audience of American Legionnaires that “despite 10 years of continuous war…America’s military is the best that it’s ever been.”

“Today, as we near this solemn anniversary, it’s fitting that we salute the extraordinary decade of service rendered by the 9/11 Generation — the more than 5 million Americans who’ve worn the uniform over the past 10 years,” the president said. “They were there, on duty, that September morning, having enlisted in a time of peace, but they instantly transitioned to a war footing. They’re the millions of recruits who have stepped forward since, seeing their nation at war and saying, “Send me.” They’re every single soldier, sailor, airman, Marine and Coast Guardsman serving today, who has volunteered to serve in a time of war, knowing that they could be sent into harm’s way.”