THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
____________________________________________________
For Immediate Release May 22, 2009
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT THE UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY COMMENCEMENT
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, Maryland
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Please, be
seated. 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
and most importantly, the graduates of the Class of 2009.
Seven hundred and fifty-six 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 should stop now.
I am extraordinarily 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.
And I know you beat Army seven straight times.
But most of all, 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.
And Class of 2009, today is your day. It's your day to reflect on all you've
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. Congratulations on that.
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 for your
patriotism. We are grateful.
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're the stories of their lives. And
we honor all of 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,
the cannons roared. 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've not only given meaning to your own lives, you
serve as a reminder and 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 that we cherish. Here are the ideals that
endure. In an era when too few citizens answer the call to service, to
community or to country, these Americans choose to serve. 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 to all who loved them.
In a culture where so many chase the outward markers of success that can so
often lead us astray -- the titles and status, the materialism and money,
the fame and popularity -- these Americans have embraced the virtues that we
need most right now: self-discipline over self-interest; work over comfort;
and character over celebrity.
After an era when so many institutions and individuals acted with such greed
and recklessness, it's no wonder that our military remains the most trusted
institution in our nation. And in a world when so many forces
and voices seek to divide us, it inspires us that this class came together
and succeeded together, from every state and every corner of the world. By
building an institution that's 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 L.A. 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 the age of 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 -- 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, and as you join and lead the 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 the spread of hateful ideologies; 18th century-style piracy and 21st
century cyber threats.
So SEALs and special operations forces, we 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 sheikh 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 protect 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 halls that holds our
Constitution, our Declaration of Independence, and our Bill of Rights. I
went there because, as our national debate on how to deal with the security
challenge that we face proceeds, 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 and keep us true to who we are.
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 choice 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.
But that simple act -- by that simple act, you will accept a life of great
sacrifice: long deployments, separation from loved ones, tests and trials
that most Americans can't 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 and the well-defined goals,
the equipment and the support that 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, 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'll 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 of tomorrow -- 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.
Now, as you advance through the ranks and start families of your own, know
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, then 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 -- a 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 just last month in the seas off
Somalia. I will not recount the full story of those five days in
April; much of it is already known. Some of it will never be known, and
that's 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.
And after that operation, after Captain Phillips was freed, I spoke to 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 night
on the scene and in command centers half a world away to save one 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 I told him
that 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?" Just look at that ring on your
finger. Remember your days on the bank 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 this country that we love.
Congratulations, Class of 2009. God bless the Navy. God bless the Marine
Corps. And God bless the United States of America.
Office of the Press Secretary
____________________________________________________
For Immediate Release May 22, 2009
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT THE UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY COMMENCEMENT
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, Maryland
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Please, be
seated. 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
and most importantly, the graduates of the Class of 2009.
Seven hundred and fifty-six 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 should stop now.
I am extraordinarily 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.
And I know you beat Army seven straight times.
But most of all, 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.
And Class of 2009, today is your day. It's your day to reflect on all you've
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. Congratulations on that.
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 for your
patriotism. We are grateful.
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're the stories of their lives. And
we honor all of 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,
the cannons roared. 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've not only given meaning to your own lives, you
serve as a reminder and 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 that we cherish. Here are the ideals that
endure. In an era when too few citizens answer the call to service, to
community or to country, these Americans choose to serve. 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 to all who loved them.
In a culture where so many chase the outward markers of success that can so
often lead us astray -- the titles and status, the materialism and money,
the fame and popularity -- these Americans have embraced the virtues that we
need most right now: self-discipline over self-interest; work over comfort;
and character over celebrity.
After an era when so many institutions and individuals acted with such greed
and recklessness, it's no wonder that our military remains the most trusted
institution in our nation. And in a world when so many forces
and voices seek to divide us, it inspires us that this class came together
and succeeded together, from every state and every corner of the world. By
building an institution that's 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 L.A. 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 the age of 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 -- 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, and as you join and lead the 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 the spread of hateful ideologies; 18th century-style piracy and 21st
century cyber threats.
So SEALs and special operations forces, we 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 sheikh 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 protect 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 halls that holds our
Constitution, our Declaration of Independence, and our Bill of Rights. I
went there because, as our national debate on how to deal with the security
challenge that we face proceeds, 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 and keep us true to who we are.
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 choice 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.
But that simple act -- by that simple act, you will accept a life of great
sacrifice: long deployments, separation from loved ones, tests and trials
that most Americans can't 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 and the well-defined goals,
the equipment and the support that 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, 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'll 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 of tomorrow -- 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.
Now, as you advance through the ranks and start families of your own, know
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, then 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 -- a 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 just last month in the seas off
Somalia. I will not recount the full story of those five days in
April; much of it is already known. Some of it will never be known, and
that's 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.
And after that operation, after Captain Phillips was freed, I spoke to 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 night
on the scene and in command centers half a world away to save one 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 I told him
that 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?" Just look at that ring on your
finger. Remember your days on the bank 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 this country that we love.
Congratulations, Class of 2009. God bless the Navy. God bless the Marine
Corps. And God bless the United States of America.
