For the past eight years, America's men and women in uniform have observed our nation's proudest holiday far from home, serving to defend the ideals declared in Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.

Our soldiers have served multiple deployments and endured intense hardships so that the American people can continue to live in a land of liberty and opportunity.

As my tenure at Yuma Proving Ground comes to an end July 23, I am grateful to have commanded a base with such a meaningful mission and exemplary personnel, both Soldiers and civilians, who work day in and day out to perform their work in excellent fashion.

Yuma Proving Ground's mission of testing and evaluating virtually every piece of equipment in the Army's ground combat arsenal ensures that equipment in combat areas performs flawlessly - every time, no matter where.

The evaluation and development of technologies used to locate and defeat roadside bombs and testing systems such as the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle and the Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar system, and many others, have dramatically reduced fatalities and injuries.

Men and women assigned to projects such as these routinely work many overtime hours for months on end to ensure our forces overseas receive the support they need.

An untold number of veterans of American operations in Southwest Asia are home today thanks to the life-saving work conducted at the proving ground.

I'm proud to be associated with such an accomplished, dedicated workforce that directly serves the brave men and women serving our nation so well.

I would like to thank the citizens of Yuma County for their continuous support of our military and of Yuma Proving Ground.

I wish everyone a very happy 233rd Independence Day.