mr. fortenberry,: -- mr. fortenberry: mr. speaker, yesterday marked the end of our nine-year war in iraq. in a low-key ceremony, troops lowered the flag over the command in the area. the iraq war was a painful and difficult time, extraordinarily costly, in terms of american -- america's lives and resources, nearly 4,500 meshes including 45 nebraskans were killed in operation iraq wri freedom. 227 nebraskans were wounded in combat. tens of thousands of iraqis lost their lives. we lost good men and women, individuals full of life and blessed with tall ebt whose proud families awaited their return to the country they love sod dear and expressed so well. we are proud of our fallen hero, proud of the veterans who have come back to us, proud of their sacrifice, proud of their noble vision that has significantly changed the global environment, where democratic ideals are now making steady gains everywhere. the work of our troops steadily done in the midst of extensive public debate and strategy, slickses about the war, was the stren