On June 12, 1987, the Honorable President Ronald W. Reagan spoke at the Brandenburg Gate dividing East and West Berlin.  In his speech, he challenged Mr. Gorbachev, the Soviet Premier, to tear down the Berlin Wall.  Some question the impact this and many other actions of President Reagan had on history and the tearing down of the Iron Curtain.  We were there and felt the palpable reverberations of President Reagan's daring to challenge the status quo.  We can only ponder where we might be today if the President did not have a direct hand in pushing for change and freedom.  As veterans of the US Military Liaison Mission, we experienced first hand the backing and strong policies of President Reagan.  Within 24 hours of the murder of one of our colleagues, Lieutenant Colonel Arthur N. Nicholson, in March 1985, by a Soviet sentry serving the misguided and unchecked policies of a dictatorial system, our President boldly challenged the Soviets to account for their actions.  May God bless Ronald W. Reagan, his legacy and his family.

We recommend the following external websites:

• President Reagan's speech at Brandenburg Gate
• The Ronald Reagan Official Library
  http://www.reaganlibrary.com/welcome.asp
• The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation http://www.ronaldreaganmemorial.com/default.asp
• The White House - President Reagan http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/rr40.html