Thanks for directing me to a smaller chat group. Hopefully I can find a few moms to share with. My son Tim left last Monday to Denver and got sworn in and then off to GL. He's my oldest so the first to leave the nest. Hopefully the first nine weeks will go by fast and I can see his graduation.
Thanks again.
Hi Karen,
Just got back from San Diego we drove Samantha down she will be deployed tomorrow morning. They will fly her to the USS Chancellorville. We very much enjoyed spending the last couple of weeks with her. She is a little nervous but looking forward to getting to her ship. I on the other hand am learning to cope!!! Today is my first day back and I'm swamped at the office so I will let you know more about the boxes when I have a chance to talk to Chris! Hope all is well with you and your kids!! Take care. Tammie
Also you have said if she got involved with out side activities. Like what?
she likes and plays basketball she's going to a game this coming weekend with some people. Thanks Anita
Hi Karen, this is Angela's mom, our daughter alee is back from visiting her sister angela in key west and now Angela seems like she is longly . she isn't the type that goes to drink or smoke. She got out to go pearsailing ( spelling) but it rained. She went out with some people boating late week end and they got stuck on sand bar. other 2 boats got back in one boat went back after them , they finally got in around 4:00 in the morning. Alee signs up tomorrow in Charlotte NC she will also be going to Navy. Well the empty nest is here but this is for them and their furture I have to keep telling myself. Well better go how is Clay and your other boys. What does Clay do in Key West? Hope the best for all of you. Anita
Hi Karen,
I sent you a big long e-mail and just found out it didn't go through!! So here we go again.
So you live in Gods country!! Every time we go up there through Glenwood Canyon you just know there is a God!! I'm a colorado native and we live in Arvada. I have 4 kids 2 boys and 2 girls. They are my heart. Samantha is our baby so it's been very hard on us since she joined the Navy!! She joined because she wanted to serve her country and thought it would be a good way to save for collage. She signed up for Air Crew but fractured both of her feet in BC so she lost that job and now is a CTT. She's had a rough time of it so far but she's tough and doesn't whine.. She graduated A school with honors and is first in the class she's in now. We are very proud of her. She will report to San Diego Aug. 6th and she's pretty sure they will fly her to her ship.
My other 3 kids are 31, 26, and 23 the baby is 19. I'm thankful that my other 3 are still close!! I don't know how you do it with 3 in the service!!! God Bless you!!! We are having a hard time with one!!
So good to talk to you and very glad to have met you!! Hope to talk to you soon. Thank you for all of the great up dates!!
Tammie
Hope you have a great 4th of July also. My daughter Angela got down to Key West last week and her sister Alee took her graduation (high sch.) vacation and went with Angela. She is staying for about 2weeks on base in hotel. Alee has decided to go ahead and join Navy when she gets back on 7-13-09. I just hope the best for both of them. And for all of our kids that are enlisted. Well hope your kids are doing good.
Gary and I are feeling a little empty nest around here. Thank you for keeping intouch. Anita (Angela's mom)
Karen, I'm sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. Time has been flying by. We are all good and so is is my sailor. She will be back in the states soon so that is even better. How are you and all of your kids doing?
Hi Karen, thanks for the message. Chance does look pretty good in his new uniform. it sure was good to have them home on leave, we all had fun. sorry i have not been in contact with anyone for a while but my dad pasted away on May 19th so i am in England helping my Mum get things in order, and get her back on her feet. I've been here for weeks, i am flighing home to Co on the 17th of June so hopfully i can get back into the swing of things. love to all the Navy moms. thanks for the note Karen. Take Care . Judi Y
Thanks, Karen! The 'kids' are settling in in Pensacola. He classes up next week. It doesn't look like he'll be able to make his sister's wedding in a month :-) Our DIL, who you met, has to come, because she is in it. I really miss her, and can't imagine how her mother, on the other side of the world, feels!
How is GWS? How about your sailors and your soldier?
Karen, If read your post about being invited for the Tiger Cruise on the Decatur, from Hawaii in November.
I have not received and invitation for the Gridley....what caught my eye was the date "November", will the whole fleet be in Hawaii at that time? The reason I ask is because Justin was hoping to be back in SD in time for the baby to be born around Oct. 12th......they told him he could fly to SD from Hawaii (making room for Tiger cruise participants). Does the invite give you a definate date to be in Hawaii for the cruise?
Hahahaha...not all of those e-mails were from here! I had already turned off all those notices! What is "FRG" ? Thanks for compiling needed info for the rest of us!
Hi Karen! After several months (and 2,445 unread e-mails!) I am going to try to keep in touch with the important things! Hope all is well with you and your GM2! Mine did not come home before departure...but, he hopes to get more time home after their return. Hope to talk to you more often!
Hi Karen, yes Justin is on the Gridley....did'nt grow up in the Houston area but we have been here 22 years!
We have family in Ft. Collins, CO.....Justin's grandmother and an aunt.
Here is President Obama's prepared speech for the 2009 graduating class of the Naval Academy:
Governor O’Malley, thank you for your generous introduction and for your leadership here in Maryland. Vice Admiral Fowler and faculty, distinguished guests, parents, family and friends. The Brigade of Midshipmen.
Most importantly, the graduates of the Class of 2009: 756 Navy and, I am told, the largest number of Marines in Naval Academy history.
Now, I know it’s customary at graduation for guests to bring a gift. And I have. All midshipmen on restriction for minor conduct offenses are hereby officially absolved.
I did say “minor.”
Midshipmen, I’m told that the extra ribbon on your chest is for the honor you earned, for only the second time in the storied history of the Naval Academy—the Navy’s Meritorious Unit Commendation Award. So I’ve consulted with Admiral Fowler. And I can make this announcement. For all you Midshipmen returning next fall, I hereby grant you something extra—an extra weekend.
I am honored to be with you today. Because of all the privileges of serving as President, I have no greater honor than serving ...
as your Commander-in-Chief.
Every day, I count on Naval Academy graduates like Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the CNO, Admiral Gary Roughead; and my Director of National Intelligence, Admiral Dennis Blair. I’ll also be counting on Ray Mabus—a former surface warfare officer—as our new Secretary of the Navy.
Every day, I rely on former Sailors and Marines on my staff — young men who served as intelligence officers in Iraq and Afghanistan; and the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps, Supreme Allied Commander and now my National Security Advisor — General Jim Jones.
I’ve admired your prowess on the football field. At the White House last month, I was proud to present the team and Coach Ken with the Commander-in-Chief Trophy — which you won for the sixth straight time. I know, you beat Army seven straight times.
But most of all, I’ve admired the spirit of your service. Because it’s not the strength of our arms or the power of our technology that gives the United States our military dominance. It’s our people. It’s our Sailors and Marines, Soldiers and Airmen and Coast Guardsmen who perform brilliantly in every mission we give them.
Class of 2009, today is your day. It’s your day to reflect on all you have achieved. Or should I say — all that you endured. The madness of “I Day” that began your transformation from civilians to Sailors and Marines. That endless Plebe Summer when you were pushed to new levels, new heights — physically, mentally, morally. And speaking of new heights, I’m told that one of your proudest achievements still stands — one of the fastest times for the Herndon climb.
And families, today is your day, too. It’s the latest in a line of proud firsts. The first time you saw your son or daughter with that Navy haircut. That first time you saw them in their summer whites. And today, the first time you’ll see them as officers.
So to all of you — moms and dads, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas, and all the local sponsor families who opened your homes to these Midshipmen — thank you for your support and your patriotism.
This class is about to become the latest link in a long, unbroken chain of heroism and victory. A chain forged in battles whose names are etched in the stone of this stadium. From Coral Sea to Midway to Guadalcanal. From Iwo Jima to Inchon. From the Mekong Delta to Desert Storm. For some among us, these are not just places on a map. They are the stories of their lives. And we honor all our veterans here today.
This chain of service calls to mind words that were spoken here in Annapolis on another spring day a century ago. The crowds assembled, the bands played, and the cannons roared. And as John Paul Jones’ body was carried to the Yard, President Teddy Roosevelt spoke to the Midshipmen gathered there that day.
“Remember,” he said, “our words of admiration are but as sounding brass and tinkling symbols if we do not … prepare to emulate their deeds.”
Emulate their deeds. That is what you are called upon to do. And in doing so these past four years, you have not only given meaning to your own lives, you serve as a reminder — a challenge — to your fellow Americans to fulfill the true meaning of citizenship.
America, look at these young men and women. Look at these Sailors and Marines. Here are the values we cherish. Here are the ideals that endure.
In an era when too few citizens answer the call to service — to community or country — these Americans chose to serve. And they did so in a time of war, knowing they might be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Indeed, as we near Memorial Day, we pay tribute to all those who have given their lives so that we might live free, including those aboard that Navy helicopter who were lost this week in the waters off California. We send our prayers to their families and all who loved them.
In a culture where so many chase the outward markers of success that can so often lead us astray—titles and status, materialism and money, fame and popularity — these Americans have embraced the virtues that we need most right now. Self-discipline over self-interest. Work over comfort. Character over celebrity.
After an era when so many institutions and individuals acted with such greed and recklessness, it is no wonder that our military remains the most trusted institution in the nation. And in a world when so many forces and voices seek to divide us, it is inspiring that this class came together and succeeded together, from every state and every corner of the world. By building an institution that is more diverse than ever — more women, more Hispanics, more African Americans — the Naval Academy has reaffirmed a fundamental American truth: that out of many, we are one.
We see these values in every one of these Sailors and Marines, including those who have already served their country — the dozens among you with prior enlisted service.
It’s the perseverance of Elvin Vasquez, a Marine supply chief in Iraq, who finally got into the Naval Academy on his third try, who never gave up trying because he says, “there’s just something about being a Marine.”
It’s the example of Carlos Carbello, who left the tough streets of LA to serve on a destroyer in the Pacific and who has used his time here to mentor others, because he’s the oldest midshipman—the old man—at age 26.
It’s the patriotism of Sade Holder, who came to America as a child from Trinidad, enlisted in the Navy and then earned the titles she values most: “U.S. citizen” and “Navy Midshipman” and today, “Ensign.”
And it’s the reverence for tradition shown by James P. Heg, a communications maintenance Marine in Iraq who today is joined by the man who first urged him to sign up—his grandfather, returning six decades after he was a midshipman, a submariner from World War II, 89-year old Captain James E. Heg.
Honor. Courage. Commitment. These are the values that have defined your years in the Yard and that you’ll need in the years ahead. As you join the fleet. As you lead Marines. As you confront the ever-changing threats of an ever-changing world.
For history teaches us that the nations that grow comfortable with the old ways and complacent in the face of new threats—those nations do not long endure. And in the 21st century, we do not have the luxury of deciding which challenges to prepare for and which to ignore. We must overcome the full spectrum of threats. The conventional and the unconventional. The nation-state and the terrorist network. The spread of deadly technologies and of hateful ideologies. Eighteenth century-style piracy and 21st century cyber-threats.
So, SEALs and special operations forces—we’ll need you for those short-notice missions in the dark of night. But we’ll also need you for the long-term training of foreign militaries so they can take responsibility for their own security.
Marines—we need you to defeat the insurgent and the extremist. But we also need you to work with the tribal sheik and local leaders from Anbar to Kandahar who want to build a better future for their people.
Naval aviators and flight officers—we need you to dominate the airspace in times of conflict, but also to deliver food and medicine in times of humanitarian crisis.
And surface warfare officers and submariners—we need you to project American power across the vast oceans, but also to project American principles and values when you pull into that foreign port—because for so many people around the world, you are the face of America.
These great opportunities come with great responsibilities. Indeed, Midshipmen and Presidents swear a similar oath—not only to protect and defend the American people, but the Constitution of the United States.
Yesterday I visited the National Archives and the hall that holds our Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. I went there because as our nation debates how to deal with the security challenges that we face, we must remember this enduring truth: the values and ideals in those documents are not simply words written into aging parchment, they are the bedrock of our liberty and our security. We uphold our fundamental principles and values not just because we choose to, but because we swear to. Not because they feel good, but because they help keep us safe.
Because when America strays from our values, it not only undermines the rule of law, it alienates us from our allies, it energizes our adversaries and it endangers our national security and the lives of our troops. So as Americans, we reject the false chose between our security and our ideals. We can and we must and we will protect both. And that is just what you will pledge to do in a few moments when you raise your right hand and take your oath.
By that simple act you will accept a life of great sacrifice. Long deployments. Separation for loved ones. Tests and trials that most Americans cannot imagine. But that is the oath you take, the life you choose, the promise you make to America.
And, today, this is the promise I make to you.
It’s a promise that as long as I am your Commander in Chief, I will only send you into harm’s way when it is absolutely necessary, and with the strategy, the well-defined goals, the equipment and the support you need to get the job done. This includes the job of bringing the Iraq war to a responsible end and pursuing a new comprehensive strategy to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda and its allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
And to get you the support you need, we’re enlisting all elements of our national power — our diplomacy and development and our economic might and our moral suasion — so that you and the rest of our military do not bear the burden of our security alone.
We will also ensure you can meet the missions of today, which is why we’ve halted reductions in Navy personnel and increased the size of the Marine Corps. And we will ensure you can meet the missions of tomorrow, which is why we’re investing in the capabilities and technologies — the littoral combat ships, the most advanced submarines and fighter aircraft — so that you have what you need to succeed. In short, we will maintain America’s military dominance and keep you the finest fighting force the world has ever seen.
As you advance through the ranks and start families of your own, know too that we will be with you every step of the way, increasing your pay, increasing child care and helping families deal with the stress and separation of war. Because as my wife Michelle has come to see in her visits with military families across the country, when a loved one is deployed, the whole family goes to war.
And, finally, whether you’re 26 years old or 89, if you’ve worn the uniform and taken care of America, America will take care of you. With a modern VA that keeps faith with our veterans and wounded warriors. With a 21st century GI Bill that gives our veterans and their families the chance to live out their dreams.
This is America’s covenant with you — our solemn commitment to all those who serve. And while our nation has not always fulfilled its duties to its armed forces, let there be no doubt: America’s men and women in uniform have always fulfilled theirs. And that’s exactly what America’s Navy did last month in the seas off Somalia.
I will not recount the full story of those five days in April. Much of it is known. Some of it will never be known. And that is how it should be. But here, on this day, at this institution, it must be said: the extraordinary precision and professionalism displayed that day was made possible, in no small measure, by the training, the discipline and the leadership skills that so many of those officers learned at the United States Naval Academy.
After that operation — after Captain Phillips was freed — I spoke with one of the Navy SEALs who was there and with the skipper of the USS Bainbridge, Commander Frank Castellano — Naval Academy Class of 1990. And I can tell you, as they would, that the success of that day belongs not only to a single commander or a small team of SEALs. It belongs to the many.
It belongs to all the Sailors — officers and enlisted, not on one ship, but several — who diligently stood their watch. It belongs to the pilots and airmen who gave cover overhead. To the intelligence specialists and negotiators and translators. To all the people who worked, day after day — on the scene and in command centers half a world away — to save a man they knew only as a fellow American.
And we recall that in those moments of danger and decision, these Americans did what they were trained to do. They remembered their skills. They did their duty. They performed their job. They stood their watch. They took their time and then they took their shot. And they brought that Captain home.
And as Commander Castellano said later of his Sailors: “Every citizen in the country should be happy and thankful that they’re there.” And we are.
So Class of 2009, months or years or decades from now, should you find yourself in a moment of danger, a moment of decision, and should you wonder, “What is expected of me?” “What should I do?”
Well, just look at that ring on your finger. Remember your days on the banks of the Severn. Remember all you achieved here and all that you learned here. “Devotion to Honor, Strength from Courage.”
Live these values. Live these virtues. Emulate the deeds of those who have gone before you. Do this and you will not only distinguish yourselves as Sailors and Marines. You will be in the lead as we write the next proud chapter in the story of the country we love.
Congratulations Class of 2009. God bless the Navy. God bless the Marine Corps. And God bless the United States of America.
Hi Karen, Glenwood Springs sounds like a great place to live. I have always wanted to go out west. I have relatives in Calif. I have visited them and I love the ocean and the mountains! I will never forget a camping trip as a small child in the Rockies. Gorgious campsite in the woods with a rushing white water river right next to it. Thats when I fell in love with the mountains. My daughter, Ashley grew up listening to my stories and a small part of her decision to go into the Navy was to have an opportunity to see other parts of the country and the world...and what better way to do it? She loves this country and has always wanted to be on an aircraft carrier since she was 16. She has been very happy with her experience but is ready to come home when her 4 years are up. One of her dreams is to have a horse ranch in the Colorado mountains. How about your sailor?
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Thanks again.
Marti, Grand Junction
Just wanted to let you know I accepted your friend request!
Take Care,
Paige
Just got back from San Diego we drove Samantha down she will be deployed tomorrow morning. They will fly her to the USS Chancellorville. We very much enjoyed spending the last couple of weeks with her. She is a little nervous but looking forward to getting to her ship. I on the other hand am learning to cope!!! Today is my first day back and I'm swamped at the office so I will let you know more about the boxes when I have a chance to talk to Chris! Hope all is well with you and your kids!! Take care. Tammie
she likes and plays basketball she's going to a game this coming weekend with some people. Thanks Anita
I sent you a big long e-mail and just found out it didn't go through!! So here we go again.
So you live in Gods country!! Every time we go up there through Glenwood Canyon you just know there is a God!! I'm a colorado native and we live in Arvada. I have 4 kids 2 boys and 2 girls. They are my heart. Samantha is our baby so it's been very hard on us since she joined the Navy!! She joined because she wanted to serve her country and thought it would be a good way to save for collage. She signed up for Air Crew but fractured both of her feet in BC so she lost that job and now is a CTT. She's had a rough time of it so far but she's tough and doesn't whine.. She graduated A school with honors and is first in the class she's in now. We are very proud of her. She will report to San Diego Aug. 6th and she's pretty sure they will fly her to her ship.
My other 3 kids are 31, 26, and 23 the baby is 19. I'm thankful that my other 3 are still close!! I don't know how you do it with 3 in the service!!! God Bless you!!! We are having a hard time with one!!
So good to talk to you and very glad to have met you!! Hope to talk to you soon. Thank you for all of the great up dates!!
Tammie
Gary and I are feeling a little empty nest around here. Thank you for keeping intouch. Anita (Angela's mom)
How is GWS? How about your sailors and your soldier?
I have not received and invitation for the Gridley....what caught my eye was the date "November", will the whole fleet be in Hawaii at that time? The reason I ask is because Justin was hoping to be back in SD in time for the baby to be born around Oct. 12th......they told him he could fly to SD from Hawaii (making room for Tiger cruise participants). Does the invite give you a definate date to be in Hawaii for the cruise?
We have family in Ft. Collins, CO.....Justin's grandmother and an aunt.
Governor O’Malley, thank you for your generous introduction and for your leadership here in Maryland. Vice Admiral Fowler and faculty, distinguished guests, parents, family and friends. The Brigade of Midshipmen.
Most importantly, the graduates of the Class of 2009: 756 Navy and, I am told, the largest number of Marines in Naval Academy history.
Now, I know it’s customary at graduation for guests to bring a gift. And I have. All midshipmen on restriction for minor conduct offenses are hereby officially absolved.
I did say “minor.”
Midshipmen, I’m told that the extra ribbon on your chest is for the honor you earned, for only the second time in the storied history of the Naval Academy—the Navy’s Meritorious Unit Commendation Award. So I’ve consulted with Admiral Fowler. And I can make this announcement. For all you Midshipmen returning next fall, I hereby grant you something extra—an extra weekend.
I am honored to be with you today. Because of all the privileges of serving as President, I have no greater honor than serving ...
as your Commander-in-Chief.
Every day, I count on Naval Academy graduates like Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the CNO, Admiral Gary Roughead; and my Director of National Intelligence, Admiral Dennis Blair. I’ll also be counting on Ray Mabus—a former surface warfare officer—as our new Secretary of the Navy.
Every day, I rely on former Sailors and Marines on my staff — young men who served as intelligence officers in Iraq and Afghanistan; and the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps, Supreme Allied Commander and now my National Security Advisor — General Jim Jones.
I’ve admired your prowess on the football field. At the White House last month, I was proud to present the team and Coach Ken with the Commander-in-Chief Trophy — which you won for the sixth straight time. I know, you beat Army seven straight times.
But most of all, I’ve admired the spirit of your service. Because it’s not the strength of our arms or the power of our technology that gives the United States our military dominance. It’s our people. It’s our Sailors and Marines, Soldiers and Airmen and Coast Guardsmen who perform brilliantly in every mission we give them.
Class of 2009, today is your day. It’s your day to reflect on all you have achieved. Or should I say — all that you endured. The madness of “I Day” that began your transformation from civilians to Sailors and Marines. That endless Plebe Summer when you were pushed to new levels, new heights — physically, mentally, morally. And speaking of new heights, I’m told that one of your proudest achievements still stands — one of the fastest times for the Herndon climb.
And families, today is your day, too. It’s the latest in a line of proud firsts. The first time you saw your son or daughter with that Navy haircut. That first time you saw them in their summer whites. And today, the first time you’ll see them as officers.
So to all of you — moms and dads, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas, and all the local sponsor families who opened your homes to these Midshipmen — thank you for your support and your patriotism.
This class is about to become the latest link in a long, unbroken chain of heroism and victory. A chain forged in battles whose names are etched in the stone of this stadium. From Coral Sea to Midway to Guadalcanal. From Iwo Jima to Inchon. From the Mekong Delta to Desert Storm. For some among us, these are not just places on a map. They are the stories of their lives. And we honor all our veterans here today.
This chain of service calls to mind words that were spoken here in Annapolis on another spring day a century ago. The crowds assembled, the bands played, and the cannons roared. And as John Paul Jones’ body was carried to the Yard, President Teddy Roosevelt spoke to the Midshipmen gathered there that day.
“Remember,” he said, “our words of admiration are but as sounding brass and tinkling symbols if we do not … prepare to emulate their deeds.”
Emulate their deeds. That is what you are called upon to do. And in doing so these past four years, you have not only given meaning to your own lives, you serve as a reminder — a challenge — to your fellow Americans to fulfill the true meaning of citizenship.
America, look at these young men and women. Look at these Sailors and Marines. Here are the values we cherish. Here are the ideals that endure.
In an era when too few citizens answer the call to service — to community or country — these Americans chose to serve. And they did so in a time of war, knowing they might be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Indeed, as we near Memorial Day, we pay tribute to all those who have given their lives so that we might live free, including those aboard that Navy helicopter who were lost this week in the waters off California. We send our prayers to their families and all who loved them.
In a culture where so many chase the outward markers of success that can so often lead us astray—titles and status, materialism and money, fame and popularity — these Americans have embraced the virtues that we need most right now. Self-discipline over self-interest. Work over comfort. Character over celebrity.
After an era when so many institutions and individuals acted with such greed and recklessness, it is no wonder that our military remains the most trusted institution in the nation. And in a world when so many forces and voices seek to divide us, it is inspiring that this class came together and succeeded together, from every state and every corner of the world. By building an institution that is more diverse than ever — more women, more Hispanics, more African Americans — the Naval Academy has reaffirmed a fundamental American truth: that out of many, we are one.
We see these values in every one of these Sailors and Marines, including those who have already served their country — the dozens among you with prior enlisted service.
It’s the perseverance of Elvin Vasquez, a Marine supply chief in Iraq, who finally got into the Naval Academy on his third try, who never gave up trying because he says, “there’s just something about being a Marine.”
It’s the example of Carlos Carbello, who left the tough streets of LA to serve on a destroyer in the Pacific and who has used his time here to mentor others, because he’s the oldest midshipman—the old man—at age 26.
It’s the patriotism of Sade Holder, who came to America as a child from Trinidad, enlisted in the Navy and then earned the titles she values most: “U.S. citizen” and “Navy Midshipman” and today, “Ensign.”
And it’s the reverence for tradition shown by James P. Heg, a communications maintenance Marine in Iraq who today is joined by the man who first urged him to sign up—his grandfather, returning six decades after he was a midshipman, a submariner from World War II, 89-year old Captain James E. Heg.
Honor. Courage. Commitment. These are the values that have defined your years in the Yard and that you’ll need in the years ahead. As you join the fleet. As you lead Marines. As you confront the ever-changing threats of an ever-changing world.
For history teaches us that the nations that grow comfortable with the old ways and complacent in the face of new threats—those nations do not long endure. And in the 21st century, we do not have the luxury of deciding which challenges to prepare for and which to ignore. We must overcome the full spectrum of threats. The conventional and the unconventional. The nation-state and the terrorist network. The spread of deadly technologies and of hateful ideologies. Eighteenth century-style piracy and 21st century cyber-threats.
So, SEALs and special operations forces—we’ll need you for those short-notice missions in the dark of night. But we’ll also need you for the long-term training of foreign militaries so they can take responsibility for their own security.
Marines—we need you to defeat the insurgent and the extremist. But we also need you to work with the tribal sheik and local leaders from Anbar to Kandahar who want to build a better future for their people.
Naval aviators and flight officers—we need you to dominate the airspace in times of conflict, but also to deliver food and medicine in times of humanitarian crisis.
And surface warfare officers and submariners—we need you to project American power across the vast oceans, but also to project American principles and values when you pull into that foreign port—because for so many people around the world, you are the face of America.
These great opportunities come with great responsibilities. Indeed, Midshipmen and Presidents swear a similar oath—not only to protect and defend the American people, but the Constitution of the United States.
Yesterday I visited the National Archives and the hall that holds our Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. I went there because as our nation debates how to deal with the security challenges that we face, we must remember this enduring truth: the values and ideals in those documents are not simply words written into aging parchment, they are the bedrock of our liberty and our security. We uphold our fundamental principles and values not just because we choose to, but because we swear to. Not because they feel good, but because they help keep us safe.
Because when America strays from our values, it not only undermines the rule of law, it alienates us from our allies, it energizes our adversaries and it endangers our national security and the lives of our troops. So as Americans, we reject the false chose between our security and our ideals. We can and we must and we will protect both. And that is just what you will pledge to do in a few moments when you raise your right hand and take your oath.
By that simple act you will accept a life of great sacrifice. Long deployments. Separation for loved ones. Tests and trials that most Americans cannot imagine. But that is the oath you take, the life you choose, the promise you make to America.
And, today, this is the promise I make to you.
It’s a promise that as long as I am your Commander in Chief, I will only send you into harm’s way when it is absolutely necessary, and with the strategy, the well-defined goals, the equipment and the support you need to get the job done. This includes the job of bringing the Iraq war to a responsible end and pursuing a new comprehensive strategy to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda and its allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
And to get you the support you need, we’re enlisting all elements of our national power — our diplomacy and development and our economic might and our moral suasion — so that you and the rest of our military do not bear the burden of our security alone.
We will also ensure you can meet the missions of today, which is why we’ve halted reductions in Navy personnel and increased the size of the Marine Corps. And we will ensure you can meet the missions of tomorrow, which is why we’re investing in the capabilities and technologies — the littoral combat ships, the most advanced submarines and fighter aircraft — so that you have what you need to succeed. In short, we will maintain America’s military dominance and keep you the finest fighting force the world has ever seen.
As you advance through the ranks and start families of your own, know too that we will be with you every step of the way, increasing your pay, increasing child care and helping families deal with the stress and separation of war. Because as my wife Michelle has come to see in her visits with military families across the country, when a loved one is deployed, the whole family goes to war.
And, finally, whether you’re 26 years old or 89, if you’ve worn the uniform and taken care of America, America will take care of you. With a modern VA that keeps faith with our veterans and wounded warriors. With a 21st century GI Bill that gives our veterans and their families the chance to live out their dreams.
This is America’s covenant with you — our solemn commitment to all those who serve. And while our nation has not always fulfilled its duties to its armed forces, let there be no doubt: America’s men and women in uniform have always fulfilled theirs. And that’s exactly what America’s Navy did last month in the seas off Somalia.
I will not recount the full story of those five days in April. Much of it is known. Some of it will never be known. And that is how it should be. But here, on this day, at this institution, it must be said: the extraordinary precision and professionalism displayed that day was made possible, in no small measure, by the training, the discipline and the leadership skills that so many of those officers learned at the United States Naval Academy.
After that operation — after Captain Phillips was freed — I spoke with one of the Navy SEALs who was there and with the skipper of the USS Bainbridge, Commander Frank Castellano — Naval Academy Class of 1990. And I can tell you, as they would, that the success of that day belongs not only to a single commander or a small team of SEALs. It belongs to the many.
It belongs to all the Sailors — officers and enlisted, not on one ship, but several — who diligently stood their watch. It belongs to the pilots and airmen who gave cover overhead. To the intelligence specialists and negotiators and translators. To all the people who worked, day after day — on the scene and in command centers half a world away — to save a man they knew only as a fellow American.
And we recall that in those moments of danger and decision, these Americans did what they were trained to do. They remembered their skills. They did their duty. They performed their job. They stood their watch. They took their time and then they took their shot. And they brought that Captain home.
And as Commander Castellano said later of his Sailors: “Every citizen in the country should be happy and thankful that they’re there.” And we are.
So Class of 2009, months or years or decades from now, should you find yourself in a moment of danger, a moment of decision, and should you wonder, “What is expected of me?” “What should I do?”
Well, just look at that ring on your finger. Remember your days on the banks of the Severn. Remember all you achieved here and all that you learned here. “Devotion to Honor, Strength from Courage.”
Live these values. Live these virtues. Emulate the deeds of those who have gone before you. Do this and you will not only distinguish yourselves as Sailors and Marines. You will be in the lead as we write the next proud chapter in the story of the country we love.
Congratulations Class of 2009. God bless the Navy. God bless the Marine Corps. And God bless the United States of America.
-- Michael Muskal
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A BLUE CANDLE LIGHTING....
May 11, 2009 to April 25, 2010 – YOUR HOME,,,,,ANY PLACE, ANYWHERE ANY TIME,,,
N4M Meet and Greet
October 5, 2009 at 7pm to March 1, 2010 at 8:45pm – Stillwater Public Library - Room 138
AZ Adopt-a-military family Challenge
December 8, 2009 to December 24, 2009 – YOUR STATE, or join w/us
Darsete
December 27, 2009 from 12:30pm to 5pm – Panera Cafe and Bakery
PIR 12.30.09 ALL DIVISIONS
December 29, 2009 from 6pm to 8pm – Ramada Waukegan Gurnee
Arizona Moms
January 9, 2010 from 11am to 1pm – Coco's
Indianapolis "Westies" Dinner
January 18, 2010 from 5:30pm to 7pm – Olive Garden Restaurant, Avon, IN
Central CA Meet and Greet
February 6, 2010 from 1pm to 5pm – The Erato's
Indianapolis "Westies" Dinner
February 15, 2010 from 5:30pm to 7pm – Red Lobster Restaurant, Avon, IN
1st Annual Benefit Gala for the Wounded Warrior Project
April 10, 2010 at 5pm to April 11, 2010 at 12am – Grand Volute Ballrooms
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