I press publish on the my last post, and what hits my inbox but Lt. Dan Choi's official statement confirming his discharge. Here it is, in its entirety.

My Statement on DADT Discharge

This morning I received notification of my honorable discharge from the army under “Don't Ask, Don't Tell.” After 11 years since beginning my journey at West Point and after 17 months of serving openly as an infantry officer this is both an infuriating and painful announcement.

But my service continues. To all those veterans who have endured similar trials and injustices or prematurely ended their military service because of the unjust policy: our fight has only begun.

The true honor and dignity of service does not come from a piece of paper, a pension or paycheck, a rank or status; only an unflinching commitment to improve the lives of others can determine the nature of one's service. From the first moment we put on our nation's uniform and swore our solemn oath, we committed ourselves to fight for freedom and justice; to defend our constitution and put the needs of others before our own. This is not an oath that I intend to abandon. Doing so at such a time, or remaining silent when our family and community members are fired or punished for who they truly are would be an unequivocal moral dereliction that tarnishes the honor of the uniform and insults the meaning of America.

Lt. Dan Choi

He includes a link to a Newsweek article that includes more details of the manner it was communicated to him. It also includes this passage:

Now that he is officially discharged, there are laws and regulations limiting his use of the uniform. He says he will have to consider how to use the uniform in the future, but pointed out “I still own it.”

Let us thank him for his service, offer our support and mourn the senseless, counter-productive loss of another good soldier falling to the oppressive, outdated policy of “Don't ask, don't tell,” that continues to terrorize our community still. (more…)