The warrior's creed--a lesson from an American warrior.

Secretary of the Air Force James G. Roche 

Remarks at the unveiling of the commemorative display for Tech. Sgt. John Chapman, Arlington National Cemetery, Jan. 8, 2004

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, fellow members of our Air Force, service colleagues, Combat Controllers, family and friends, good morning. It is my great honor to be here on this occasion to unveil the display of an American patriot, an airman who, despite his death, continues to teach us about the true meaning of duty, honor, and the timeless obligations of service to a cause greater than self.

One year ago this Saturday, I stood on a stage at Pope Air Force Base, (N.C.) alongside our Chief of Staff, General John Jumper and Valerie Chapman, and in the presence of thousands of his family, friends, and colleagues, presented the Air Force Cross to the family of Tech. Sgt. John Allan Chapman. At that time, I said that we held the ceremony for a number of reasons--to recount his bravery, to acknowledge his heroism, to recognize him for his lifetime of service and his tremendous sacrifice, and to accept the obligation his sacrifice places on us.

We gather today for similar reasons. We will never stop thinking about the lessons his courage teaches or the example set by his life. We should not and will not, even for a moment, forget who John Allan Chapman was and the values for which he lived and served. He was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, and while he was all of these things, above all, he was an American patriot, a devoted, honorable, and brave warrior who answered the call to service, and in whom we find traits to which we all can aspire. His life stands in the patriot tradition of those who have gone before, in service to his nation and our precious freedoms.

Ladies and gentlemen, Tech. Sgt. John Chapman was and will forever be an American airman, remembered for a life of service--standing as a beacon to us all.

Nor will we forget the circumstances of his death, because of what they tell us about our duty. Many of you are very familiar with the details. For those who are not, you should know he died the way he lived--dutifully, bravely, selflessly--near the summit of a 10,000-foot mountain in eastern Afghanistan, during the Battle of Roberts' Ridge. Characteristic of his unit, he and his teammates voluntarily went into harm's way to rescue a fallen comrade--voluntarism borne of a warrior code thoroughly internalized. An ethos that says to us all--my mission, my men, and then and only then, myself.

It is so very fitting that we should be in Arlington today to unveil a display in honor of his life and his service. It is appropriate, because on these hallowed grounds we see the symbols of John Chapman's life. In our mind's eye, we see the rows of headstones, standing proudly and firmly, almost as if these fallen warriors from conflicts past and present were standing in a never-ending formation, forever answering the call to service. In the ranks of white headstones, we see him. Part of the team. In his place. Doing his duty. Strong. Focused. Devoted. It is as if he, among thousands of his comrades in arms remain standing, telling us, this is how one serves. We see on these grounds the American flag--and the nation it represents--for which he pledged and gave his life. A nation whose constitution he swore to support and defend against all enemies. When we see our nation's flag--high on a hilltop or placed in row after row on Memorial Day--John Chapman reminds us to fulfill our oath. And we see on these grounds an eternal flame. It too tells us of the eternal example of his life, of his courage in conflict, and of his selfless service.

This display exemplifies all that we value in the Air Force and the armed forces--soldiers, sailors, airmen, or Marines--doing their duty. To his comrades, John's personal bravery in the face of the enemy was emblematic of his warrior ethos; to his family, those actions were merely the latest in a lifetime of devotion to others. By his sacrifice, we, the living, are called upon to adhere daily to the values of this country, to cherish freedom, to respect and to watch over each other, and to defend liberty and justice against any who would seek to remove them from us. He died fighting terrorism. And we continue to live free today because of his sacrifice.

A final thought. We would not be here today, and this display would not be possible, were it not for the determination and resolve of the Combat Controller family. In creating this display and making arrangements to have it shown in several prominent locations around the nation, our Combat Controllers not only honor John, but also they continue to fulfill the obligations his sacrifice places on us. When this display--and a duplicate display--reach their final destinations at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, and at the Enlisted Heritage Museum at Gunter Annex in Montgomery, John Chapman will continue to educate airmen on the true meaning of military service. Every airman who passes through the doors of our Air Force will learn from his example the significance of their oath of service, and have a visible example of the price of freedom.

Thank you for joining us today. May God bless you and may he continue to bless this great nation.