Dear Mr. President:

On behalf of the people of the United States, I wish to express my condolences for the death of Sergeant Major Iosif-Silviu Fogorasi, who was killed in action in Afghanistan while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom.

I ask that you also convey our profound sympathy to Sergeant Major Fogorasi’s family. I hope they will find comfort in knowing he served a valiant cause – the cause of freedom and security for the people of Afghanistan.

Romanian troops and their international colleagues are serving with valor and distinction in Afghanistan and Iraq, and in peacekeeping missions the world over. Their sacrifices remind us that freedom has a real and sometimes heavy cost, and that we must stand together in confronting the threat posed by the enemies of peace and freedom.

Sincerely,

George W. Bush