President Obama spoke to a crowd of 3,000 service members and their families at Fort Bragg in North Carolina on Wednesday to mark the end of the almost nine-year war in Iraq. Both he and First Lady Michelle Obama, who made opening remarks, stressed the government's commitment to caring for active service members and veterans. "This nation's support doesn't end as this war ends," Michelle Obama said. "We're going to keep on serving all of you as well as you have served us." President Obama touched only lightly on the contention surrounding the war — he called it "a source of great controversy at home" — which he will effectively end as the last troops withdraw at the end of the month. He thanked the troops and their families, reflecting on successes in Iraq, and assured veterans and active troops that benefits would be available to them through legislation like the post-9/11 GI Bill.
